Big Tuna

Importance of the Topic

Buffer exchange and sample concentration are critical preparatory steps in protein characterization and gene therapy vector development. Traditional manual methods demand extensive hands-on time and can introduce variability, limiting throughput and reproducibility. An automated platform that accelerates these tasks can free researchers to focus on analytical and preparative workflows, improving efficiency in biopharmaceutical and academic laboratories.

Goals and Overview

Big Tuna is designed to fully automate high-throughput buffer exchange, diafiltration, and concentration for proteins, nucleic acids, lipid nanoparticles, and viral particles. It offers two plate formats—Unfilter 24 and Unfilter 96—to process up to 24 or 96 samples in parallel, handling volumes from 100 µL to 8 mL. The system targets reliable sample recovery and accurate final concentration with minimal setup time (<15 min).

Methodology and Instrumentation

Big Tuna employs a pressure-based ultrafiltration/diafiltration workflow combined with orbital mixing and real-time volume sensing. Key instrument components include:

• Unfilter 24 and Unfilter 96 microplates with selectable molecular-weight cutoffs (3–100 kDa)
• Ultrasonic acoustic sensors for pre- and post-cycle volume measurement
• Programmable orbital mixing (700 rpm for 24-well, 875 rpm for 96-well)
• Pressure control (15, 30, or 60 psi) to ensure uniform flow across wells
• Software wizard and SILA-2 API for intuitive setup and integration with LIMS and automation platforms

Main Results and Discussion

Performance benchmarks demonstrate:

• Buffer exchange to 96 % completion in 3 h (96-well) or 4.5 h (24-well) at 10 mg/mL IgG
• Sample recovery ≥ 96 % with target concentration accuracy within ± 10 %
• Concentration capability up to 200 mg/mL from volumes as large as 48 mL down to 8 mL

Uniform pressure distribution and automated refill algorithms ensure consistent exchange rates across all wells. The platform accommodates diverse biologics—including antibodies, AAVs, LNPs, and VLPs—without manual intervention during runs.

Benefits and Practical Applications

Big Tuna streamlines high-throughput sample prep in research and QA/QC environments by:

• Reducing hands-on time to under 15 minutes per run
• Improving consistency and reproducibility across large sample sets
• Enabling rapid formulation screening and process development

Applications include protein purification, viral vector formulation, nucleic acid desalting, and concentration tasks in drug discovery and gene therapy pipelines.

Future Trends and Opportunities

Ongoing developments may focus on:

• Tighter integration with robotic workcells and modular automation suites
• AI-driven protocol optimization for novel sample types
• Expanded compatibility with emerging biologics and nanomaterials
• Remote monitoring and cloud-based data analytics for real-time process control

Conclusion

Big Tuna offers a robust solution for automated buffer exchange and concentration, combining flexible throughput, accurate volume control, and wide sample compatibility. By minimizing manual intervention and maximizing reproducibility, the platform accelerates workflows in biopharmaceutical research and production.

Reference

No literature references were provided in the source document.