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Abstract The development of high-resolution microscopes has made it possible to investigate cellular processes in 3D and over time. However, observing fast cellular dynamics remains challenging because of photobleaching and phototoxicity. Here we report the implementation of two content-aware frame interpolation (CAFI) deep learning networks, Zooming SlowMo and Depth-Aware Video Frame Interpolation, that are highly suited for accurately predicting images in between image pairs, therefore improving the temporal resolution of image series post-acquisition. We show that CAFI is capable of understanding the motion context of biological structures and can perform better than standard interpolation methods. We benchmark CAFI’s performance on 12 different datasets, obtained from four different microscopy modalities, and demonstrate its capabilities for single-particle tracking and nuclear segmentation. CAFI potentially allows for reduced light exposure and phototoxicity on the sample for improved long-term live-cell imaging. The models and the training and testing data are available via the ZeroCostDL4Mic platform.
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This content will become publicly available on March 26, 2026
Generative frame interpolation enhances tracking of biological objects in time-lapse microscopy
Abstract Object tracking in microscopy videos is crucial for understanding biological processes. While existing methods often require fine-tuning tracking algorithms to fit the image dataset, here we explored an alternative paradigm: augmenting the image time-lapse dataset to fit the tracking algorithm. To test this approach, we evaluated whether generative video frame interpolation can augment the temporal resolution of time-lapse microscopy and facilitate object tracking in multiple biological contexts. We systematically compared the capacity of Latent Diffusion Model for Video Frame Interpolation (LDMVFI), Real-time Intermediate Flow Estimation (RIFE), Compression-Driven Frame Interpolation (CDFI), and Frame Interpolation for Large Motion (FILM) to generate synthetic microscopy images derived from interpolating real images. Our testing image time series ranged from fluorescently labeled nuclei to bacteria, yeast, cancer cells, and organoids. We showed that the off-the-shelf frame interpolation algorithms produced bio-realistic image interpolation even without dataset-specific retraining, as judged by high structural image similarity and the capacity to produce segmentations that closely resemble results from real images. Using a simple tracking algorithm based on mask overlap, we confirmed that frame interpolation significantly improved tracking across several datasets without requiring extensive parameter tuning and capturing complex trajectories that were difficult to resolve in the original image time series. Taken together, our findings highlight the potential of generative frame interpolation to improve tracking in time-lapse microscopy across diverse scenarios, suggesting that a generalist tracking algorithm for microscopy could be developed by combining deep learning segmentation models with generative frame interpolation.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2235451
- PAR ID:
- 10612012
- Publisher / Repository:
- bioRxiv
- Date Published:
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Institution:
- bioRxiv
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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