Frontiers in artificial intelligence-directed light-sheet microscopy for uncovering biological phenomena and multiorgan imaging

Light-sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM) introduces fast scanning of biological phenomena with deep photon penetration and minimal phototoxicity. This advancement represents a significant shift in 3-D imaging of large-scale biological tissues and 4-D (space + time) imaging of small live animals. The large data associated with LSFM require efficient imaging acquisition and analysis with the use of artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML) algorithms. To this end, AI/ML-directed LSFM is an emerging area for multiorgan imaging and tumor diagnostics. This review will present the development of LSFM and highlight various LSFM configurations and designs for multiscale imaging. Optical clearance techniques will be compared for effective reduction in light scattering and optimal deep-tissue imaging. This review will further depict a diverse range of research and translational applications, from small live organisms to multiorgan imaging to tumor diagnosis. In addition, this review will address AI/ML-directed imaging reconstruction, including the application of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and generative adversarial networks (GANs). In summary, the advancements of LSFM have enabled effective and efficient post-imaging reconstruction and data analyses, underscoring LSFM's contribution to advancing fundamental and translational research.