A look under the hood of Lunatic

Significance of the Topic

Lunatic redefines UV/Vis spectrophotometry for protein and nucleic acid quantification by combining microfluidics, advanced optics, and software algorithms. High accuracy, wide dynamic range, and minimal sample volume address common challenges in modern life science research and QC workflows.

Objective and Overview of the Study

This technical note examines Lunatic and Little Lunatic systems to understand how state of the art design delivers rapid, reliable concentration measurements. It reviews optical architecture, consumable design, signal processing, and application software enabling high‐throughput nucleic acid and protein analysis.

Methodology and Instrumentation

The Lunatic platform uses a xenon flashlamp coupled via fiber optics through a pinhole and focusing lens into fixed‐pathlength microcuvettes molded in low‐absorbance cyclic olefin copolymer. Two system formats support 16 samples in 2 minutes (Little Lunatic) or 96 samples in 5 minutes (Lunatic). A polychromatic spectrophotometer block with no moving parts separates wavelengths with a diffraction grating and detects spectra on a photodiode array. Real‐time reference measurements, dark current subtraction, and factory stray light calibration ensure linear absorbance from 0.03 to 275 OD.

Used Instrumentation

• Xenon flashlamp light source, lifetime approx. 2 million samples
• Fiber optic and pinhole focusing assembly
• Cyclic olefin copolymer microfluidic strips and plates
• Polychromatic detector with diffraction grating and photodiode array
• Microfluidic pump for intelligent cuvette filling

Main Results and Discussion

Lunatic achieves reproducible spectra from 230 to 750 nm using only 2 µL of sample. High Lunatic strips with dual‐pathlength cuvettes (0.1 and 0.7 mm) extend dynamic range to 275 OD. Automated fill detection and positioning optimize sensitivity. Unmix algorithms deconvolute overlapping absorbances to quantify nucleic acids or proteins in complex mixtures while homebrew functions allow custom calculations.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• High throughput with minimal hands‐on time
• Wide dynamic range accommodates dilute and highly concentrated samples
• Low sample volume preserves precious material
• Integrated apps for dsDNA, RNA, proteins, standard curves and purity metrics
• Automatable with standard 96‐well workflows

Future Trends and Opportunities

Advancements may include expanded multimode detection, integration with robotic workflows, bespoke assays using expanded Unmix libraries, and AI‐driven spectrum interpretation. Opportunities exist to combine UV/Vis data with orthogonal techniques for comprehensive sample characterization.

Conclusion

The Lunatic platform elevates conventional UV/Vis spectrophotometry by integrating microfluidic consumables, robust optical design, and versatile software. It delivers rapid, accurate protein and nucleic acid quantification across a broad absorbance range, meeting the demands of research and industrial laboratories.

Reference

1. Perkampus H. UV-VIS Spectroscopy and Its Applications Springer Berlin Heidelberg 2013.