Bridging the Automation Gap in Biotech and Life Sciences Research

By Mahrukh (Mahi) Banday, EVP/GM Marketing, Product, Operations at Curiox Biosystems

March 6, 2025

The Critical Need for Automation in Life Sciences

Biotech and life sciences research are evolving at an unprecedented pace, with breakthroughs in genomics, immunology, and cell therapy driving the need for high-throughput, high-precision workflows. Yet, one bottleneck remains persistent—cell sample preparation.

70% of laboratory errors occur in the pre-analytical phase, according to the College of American Pathologists (Lippi et al., 2011), affecting reproducibility and downstream data quality. Traditional cell washing and sample prep methods, often manual and time-intensive, introduce variability, compromise cell integrity, and limit scalability. As researchers strive for greater efficiency and standardization, automation has emerged as the key to unlocking faster, more reliable scientific discovery.

However, automation in biotech has long been hindered by high costs, complex integration, and steep learning curves. Many laboratories, especially smaller research groups, CROs, and emerging biotech firms, struggle to access solutions that balance precision, affordability, and ease of use.

This is where Curiox C-FREE Pluto Systems fill a critical gap in the market.

 

The Pluto Systems: Redefining Cell Sample Prep Through Smart Automation

At Curiox, we believe automation should be accessible, scalable, and designed to elevate—not complicate—scientific workflows. The Pluto Systems, including Pluto Workstation and Pluto ALPHA were developed to address the fundamental pain points researchers face daily:

  • Eliminating Variability: Pipette-based technology ensures consistent and gentle cell washing, preserving cell integrity while minimizing cell loss—a 60% improvement over traditional centrifugation methods (Curiox Biosystems, 2023).
  • Saving Time: Pluto Systems cut sample prep time by up to 80%, enabling researchers to focus on discovery instead of tedious manual tasks (Smith et al., 2022).
  • Reducing Maintenance Hassles: Unlike bulky, maintenance-heavy automation platforms, the Pluto systems require minimal upkeep and seamlessly integrate into existing workflows.
  • Cost-Effective Automation: The Pluto Systems are affordable, making cutting-edge automation accessible for both small research labs and large-scale facilities.

 

With these innovations, the Pluto systems deliver the perfect balance of precision, efficiency, and scalability, unlocking the full potential of cell-based research.

 

Market Trends & The Rising Demand for Smart Automation

The demand for automation in life sciences is growing exponentially. According to MarketsandMarkets, the global lab automation market is projected to reach $9.1 billion by 2026, driven by the need for higher throughput and reproducibility in research (MarketsandMarkets, 2023).

In particular:

  • The cell therapy market alone is expected to surpass $25 billion by 2028, requiring highly standardized workflows to ensure clinical success (Grand View Research, 2023).
  • Single-cell analysis research has increased by 40% in the last five years, underscoring the need for gentle, precise sample handling methods (Nature Reviews, 2022).
  • CROs and CDMOs are rapidly adopting automation to enhance throughput and consistency in drug discovery and development (BioPharma Dive, 2023).

Yet, despite these trends, many institutions still rely on outdated manual processes due to a lack of accessible automation solutions. Curiox is changing that narrative.

 

Pluto ALPHA: Automation Without Barriers

Our latest innovation, Pluto ALPHA, embodies the future of accessible automation. Designed to streamline cell washing and sample prep, it brings together:

🔹 Pipette-based technology for gentle, reproducible cell handling
🔹 Compact footprint that fits seamlessly into any lab
🔹 Cost-effective pricing to democratize automation
🔹 Minimal maintenance requirements for uninterrupted research

With Pluto ALPHA, we are eliminating automation barriers and ensuring that every lab, regardless of size or budget, can benefit from cutting-edge, efficient workflows.

 

The Future is Automated – Are You Ready?

Scientific discovery should not be limited by inefficient workflows. As the industry moves toward greater standardization, precision, and scalability, adopting smart automation will no longer be an option—it will be a necessity.

At Curiox, we are committed to empowering researchers with the tools they need to push the boundaries of innovation. The Pluto Systems are more than just automation; it’s a revolution in how life sciences research is conducted.

Ready to future-proof your lab? Discover how C-FREE can transform your research today.

Related links

Pluto Workstation
Pluto ALPHA

References

  • BioPharma Dive. (2023). “Trends in CRO and CDMO Automation Adoption.”
  • Curiox Biosystems. (2023). “Pluto Product Line Overview.”
  • Grand View Research. (2023). “Cell Therapy Market Size & Growth Trends.”
  • Lippi, G., et al. (2011). “Preanalytical Errors in Laboratory Diagnostics.” Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine.
  • MarketsandMarkets. (2023). “Global Lab Automation Market Report.”
  • Nature Reviews. (2022). “The Rise of Single-Cell Analysis in Research.”
  • Smith, J., et al. (2022). “Automating Cell Sample Prep: A Comparative Study.” Journal of Laboratory Automation.