Smart optical imaging-assisted acoustic streaming enrichment system for targeted microalgae screening under multiple...

An intelligent method for the enrichment of high-yield microalgae, characterized by real-time regulation and selectivity, enables efficient harvesting and valorization of microalgal byproducts. Here, we present a Smart Optical Imaging-Assisted Acoustic Streaming Enrichment System (SOAES), which combines a multifactor stress cultivation module with a Perception-Decision Analytical Framework and acoustofluidic technology. The framework employs a Morphology-Optics Enhanced YOLO (MOE-YOLO)-based optical image recognition algorithm to construct a dynamic feature atlas of microalgal growth states, which reflects intracellular astaxanthin accumulation and analyzes morphological parameters. A random forest regression model is combined to accurately guide acoustic amplitude and fluid flow rate, enabling label-free targeted enrichment under varying cultivation conditions, thereby optimizing the overall enrichment process. Experimental results demonstrated that under blue light exposure and a seawater volumetric concentration of 20 %, SOAES achieved an enrichment ratio of 9.4-fold, with astaxanthin content in the enriched H. pluvialis population increasing by approximately 125 % compared to pre-enrichment levels. With its integrated advantages of intelligent tunability, label-free capability and scalability, this system provides a promising analytical framework for intelligent, label-free enrichment of high-yield microalgae.