Development of Deep Learning Models for Predicting the Effects of Exposure to Engineered Nanomaterials on Daphnia magna

Pantelis Karatzas, Georgia Melagraki*, Laura Bradford, Iseult Lynch*, Dimitra-Danai Varsou, Antreas Afantitis, Andreas Tsoumanis, Philip Doganis, Haralambos Sarimveis*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)
189 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

This study presents the results of applying deep learning methodologies within the ecotoxicology field, with the objective of training predictive models that can support hazard assessment and eventually the design of safer engineered nanomaterials (ENMs). A workflow applying two different deep learning architectures on microscopic images of Daphnia magna is proposed that can automatically detect possible malformations, such as effects on the length of the tail, and the overall size, and uncommon lipid concentrations and lipid deposit shapes, which are due to direct or parental exposure to ENMs. Next, classification models assign specific objects (heart, abdomen/claw) to classes that depend on lipid densities and compare the results with controls. The models are statistically validated in terms of their prediction accuracy on external D. magna images and illustrate that deep learning technologies can be useful in the nanoinformatics field, because they can automate time-consuming manual procedures, accelerate the investigation of adverse effects of ENMs, and facilitate the process of designing safer nanostructures. It may even be possible in the future to predict impacts on subsequent generations from images of parental exposure, reducing the time and cost involved in long-term reproductive toxicity assays over multiple generations.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere2001080
Number of pages11
JournalSmall
Volume16
Issue number36
Early online date17 Jun 2020
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Sept 2020

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme via NanoSolveIT Project under grant agreement number 814572. The Daphnia microscopy images were generated via a NERC highlight topic grant (NE/N006569/1).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 The Authors. Published by WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim

Keywords

  • deep learning
  • hazard assessment
  • image analysis
  • machine learning
  • nanoinformatics

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Chemistry(all)
  • Materials Science(all)
  • Biotechnology
  • Biomaterials

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