New to peptides? You're in the right place. We've answered some of the most common questions below to help you understand peptides, how they're supplied, how they should be handled and some of the terminology you may come across.
Peptides: The Basics
What are peptides?
What are peptides?
Peptides are short chains of amino acids. Amino acids are often described as the building blocks of proteins, and different peptides have different structures and properties.
Are all peptides the same?
Are all peptides the same?
No. There are many different peptides, each made from a particular sequence of amino acids. Their characteristics, stability and applications can vary considerably.
What does "research peptide" mean?
What does "research peptide" mean?
A research peptide is supplied for laboratory, analytical or research purposes. Products labelled for research use should only be used for their stated intended purpose.
Why do peptides usually come as a powder?
Why do peptides usually come as a powder?
Many peptides are supplied in a freeze-dried form known as lyophilised powder. Removing water can make the product easier to transport and store while helping maintain stability.
What does lyophilised mean?
What does lyophilised mean?
Lyophilisation is another term for freeze-drying. The peptide solution is frozen and the water is removed under controlled conditions, leaving a dry material inside the vial.
Why does the powder sometimes look like a small puck or cake?
Why does the powder sometimes look like a small puck or cake?
This is a normal result of the freeze-drying process. Depending on the peptide and manufacturing process, the material may appear as a solid puck, fluffy powder or partially broken cake.
What does the mg on a peptide vial mean?
What does the mg on a peptide vial mean?
The mg (milligram) measurement tells you the stated amount of peptide contained within the vial. For example, a vial labelled 10mg contains a stated 10mg of peptide material.
What is a peptide blend?
What is a peptide blend?
A peptide blend contains more than one peptide within the same product. Always check the product specification to understand which peptides are present and the stated amount of each.
Storage & Handling
How should peptides be stored?
How should peptides be stored?
Storage requirements can vary between products. Always follow the storage instructions supplied with the individual peptide and avoid unnecessary exposure to heat, moisture and direct sunlight.
Do peptides need to be refrigerated?
Do peptides need to be refrigerated?
Some peptides have recommended refrigerated or frozen storage conditions, while others may tolerate different conditions for limited periods. Check the specific product information rather than assuming the same rules apply to every peptide.
Can peptides be frozen?
Can peptides be frozen?
Certain lyophilised peptides may be suitable for frozen storage. However, the recommended storage temperature can vary depending on the peptide, so always follow the individual product specification.
Does light affect peptides?
Does light affect peptides?
Some peptides can be sensitive to prolonged or intense light exposure. Keeping products in their original packaging and away from direct sunlight is generally good laboratory storage practice.
What happens if my peptide arrives at room temperature?
What happens if my peptide arrives at room temperature?
A short period at room temperature does not automatically mean a lyophilised peptide has degraded. Stability depends on the particular peptide, temperature and length of exposure.
Can I keep taking peptides in and out of the freezer?
Can I keep taking peptides in and out of the freezer?
Repeated temperature changes are generally best avoided. Consistent storage conditions help reduce unnecessary exposure to temperature fluctuations and condensation.
Why is there condensation on my vial?
Why is there condensation on my vial?
Condensation can occur when a cold vial is moved into a warmer environment. This does not necessarily indicate a problem with the contents of the vial.
How long do peptides last?
How long do peptides last?
Shelf life varies according to the peptide, manufacturing process, packaging and storage conditions. Refer to the product's stated expiry date and recommended storage conditions.
Understanding Peptide Quality
What does peptide purity mean?
What does peptide purity mean?
Purity generally refers to how much of the peptide material detected during analysis corresponds to the intended peptide rather than related impurities.
What does 99% purity mean?
What does 99% purity mean?
A reported purity of 99% generally indicates that approximately 99% of the peptide-related material detected using the stated analytical method corresponds to the target peptide. It should not automatically be interpreted as meaning that 99% of everything physically inside the vial is peptide.
What is a COA?
What is a COA?
COA stands for Certificate of Analysis. It is a document containing information about a product or batch and may include analytical testing results.
What is HPLC testing?
What is HPLC testing?
High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) is an analytical technique commonly used to separate compounds within a sample. In peptide testing, it is frequently used to assess purity.
What is mass spectrometry?
What is mass spectrometry?
Mass spectrometry is an analytical technique used to measure molecular mass and can help confirm the identity of a peptide.
What's the difference between purity and quantity?
What's the difference between purity and quantity?
They measure different things. Purity relates to the proportion of the detected peptide material associated with the target compound, while quantity/content relates to how much peptide is present.
Why might two batches look slightly different?
Why might two batches look slightly different?
Small differences in appearance can occur because of the freeze-drying process, formulation and other manufacturing variables. Appearance alone isn't a reliable way of determining peptide identity, quantity or purity.
Vials, Reconstitution & Lab Preparation
What does reconstitution mean?
What does reconstitution mean?
Reconstitution is the process of adding a suitable liquid to a lyophilised material so that it dissolves into a solution for its intended laboratory application.
What is bacteriostatic water?
What is bacteriostatic water?
Bacteriostatic water is sterile water containing a preservative, commonly benzyl alcohol. It is different from plain sterile water, so the appropriate solvent should be selected according to the intended laboratory procedure.
Is bacteriostatic water the same as sterile water?
Is bacteriostatic water the same as sterile water?
No. Sterile water generally contains no antimicrobial preservative, whereas bacteriostatic water contains a preservative. They should not automatically be considered interchangeable.
Why does the amount of liquid added matter?
Why does the amount of liquid added matter?
The amount of liquid added determines the final concentration of the solution. The same amount of peptide mixed with different volumes of liquid will produce different concentrations.
What does concentration mean?
What does concentration mean?
Concentration describes how much peptide is present within a particular volume of solution. For example, laboratory concentrations may be expressed as mg/ml.
Why isn't my peptide dissolving immediately?
Why isn't my peptide dissolving immediately?
Dissolution time can vary depending on the peptide, solvent, concentration and temperature. Some materials dissolve quickly while others may take longer.
Should peptide solutions be shaken?
Should peptide solutions be shaken?
Aggressive agitation may not be appropriate for some peptides. Laboratory protocols commonly favour gentle mixing where required, but the correct handling procedure depends on the particular compound.
Why does my vial look empty?
Why does my vial look empty?
Lyophilised material can sometimes form a very thin or compact layer at the bottom of a vial, particularly when relatively small quantities are present. Check the vial carefully under suitable lighting before assuming it is empty.