Unchained Labs launched Lil’ Tuna on July 7, a benchtop buffer exchange system the company says is the first to fully automate plate-based UF/DF in a compact footprint. The Pleasanton, California-based life sciences firm positioned the instrument as a unification of its two existing platforms, Big Tuna for high-throughput plate exchanges and Unagi for walk-up individual sample processing.
The Problem: Buffer Exchange Bottlenecks
Buffer exchange and sample concentration remain some of the most time-consuming manual steps in biologics and gene therapy workflows. Traditional methods, such as dialysis, centrifugation, and cartridge-based filtration, demand constant hands-on intervention and are notoriously difficult to automate at screening scale. Teams using these approaches end up babysitting a step that eats into throughput and pulls researchers away from the science that matters.
One System, Every Scale
Lil’ Tuna uses the same pressure-based ultrafiltration/diafiltration (UF/DF) approach and consumables as both Big Tuna and Unagi. It processes 96- or 24-well plates for maximum throughput, handles one-off samples on the fly, and delivers sample recoveries of 96% or higher. The goal is straightforward: one system that fits any lab regardless of scale or workflow.
Built for Automation
For labs investing in full automation, Lil’ Tuna includes API software, automation-friendly template importing, and a sample stage designed for easy robotic access. It integrates directly with Stuntman, Unchained’s AI-driven automation platform, enabling seamless handoff into formulation screening, stability characterization, and other downstream workflows.
“Buffer exchange has always been one of those steps that kills a scientist’s momentum,” said Krystin Schmidt, VP Marketing at Unchained Labs. “Lil’ Tuna fully automates the whole thing so researchers can finally stop babysitting their buffer exchange. Its compact footprint and automation-ready design make it a perfect fit for the next generation of AI-enabled labs.”
Source: Unchained Labs Press Release
