Automated quantitative analysis of silica nanorod dimensions via watershed segmentation
Research regarding the synthesis of silica nanoparticles often requires quantitative analysis of their dimensions. Dimensions are typically obtained manually, but this method is time-consuming and tedious. This work explores the potential for an automated analysis with Matlab to improve the efficiency of this process. The program described is a preliminary proof-of-concept version of a nanorod analysis program. Watershed segmentation and minimum-area bounding boxes are viable tools for the automated quantitative analysis of nanorod dimensions. When compared to manual analysis, the automated process shows promise. However, the program functions best with minimal nanorod overlap and requires more extensive testing to become feasible for widespread use. Improvements to noise reduction and particle shape prediction will expand the scope of images that can be subject to automatic analysis.
