Last Updated: December 2025

This page outlines standard protocols for working with research peptides. Correct handling preserves compound integrity and supports valid research outcomes.

Storage Requirements

Improper storage destroys peptides. Temperature, light, and moisture all affect stability.

Lyophilized peptides require cold storage at minus 20 degrees Celsius or below. Keep them sealed in original vials until use. Store away from light, either in a dark freezer or with vials wrapped in foil. Under these conditions, most lyophilized peptides remain stable for extended periods.

Reconstituted peptides degrade faster than powder form. For short term use over a few weeks, refrigerate at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius. For anything longer, divide the solution into single use aliquots and freeze them. Each freeze thaw cycle damages peptides, so aliquoting means you only thaw what you need rather than the whole batch.

Temperature stability matters. A freezer that gets opened repeatedly throughout the day exposes contents to temperature swings. Even if the average stays cold, these fluctuations accelerate degradation. Use a dedicated freezer with limited access if possible.

Reconstitution Guidelines

Peptides typically ship as lyophilized powder. Reconstitution converts them to solution form for research applications.

Solvent selection varies by peptide. Bacteriostatic water suits most applications and prevents microbial growth in multi use vials. Sterile water works but provides no preservation, so use the solution promptly or freeze it. Certain peptides need specific solvents like dilute acetic acid or DMSO depending on their solubility. Product documentation specifies requirements.

Reconstitution steps: Allow the vial to warm to room temperature first. Add solvent slowly along the vial wall rather than directly onto the powder. Swirl gently until dissolved. Vigorous shaking can denature peptides through mechanical stress. If dissolution is slow, wait a few minutes and swirl again rather than forcing it.

Calculate and record concentration. Divide the peptide mass by the solvent volume. A 10mg peptide in 2ml solvent gives you 5mg/ml. Write this on the vial and in your records.

Handling Best Practices

Peptides require careful handling to maintain research utility.

Maintain cleanliness. Contamination skews results and degrades compounds. Use a laminar flow hood when available. Otherwise, work on sanitized surfaces with clean equipment.

Use proper tools. Sterile syringes and needles for liquid transfers. Clean spatulas for powder if needed. Never allow skin contact with peptides or vial interiors.

Limit environmental exposure. Oxygen causes oxidation. Light causes photodegradation. Work efficiently, reseal vials promptly, and return to storage immediately after withdrawing what you need.

Label every vial. Include peptide name, concentration, date of reconstitution, and who prepared it. Mystery vials waste time and introduce uncertainty into research.

Documentation

Good records support reproducible research and help diagnose problems when results deviate from expectations.

Keep a peptide log containing lot numbers from supplier packaging, receipt dates and storage location, reconstitution details including date, solvent, and final concentration, usage records showing dates and volumes withdrawn, and observations about appearance or behavior.

Record anomalies. Cloudiness, floating particles, color changes, or unusual precipitation all warrant documentation. These may signal degradation or contamination affecting your research.

Log environmental events. Freezer malfunctions, power outages, or temperature excursions should be noted alongside which compounds were potentially affected. This context helps explain unexpected results later.

Quality Control

Verifying peptide quality adds confidence to research findings.

Visual checks catch obvious issues. Reconstituted solutions should be clear. Cloudiness, visible particles, or color where none should exist indicate problems.

Review supplier documentation. Certificates of analysis provide purity data from testing. Match lot numbers on your vials to the certificates to confirm you have the right information.

Create baselines. When using a new peptide, document its expected behavior in your assays. Future deviations from this baseline signal potential issues with storage, handling, or batch variation.

Safety Considerations

Standard laboratory safety applies to peptide research.

Wear protective equipment. Gloves prevent skin contact. Lab coats protect clothing. Safety glasses are appropriate around solvents.

Handle spills properly. Clean up immediately with suitable disinfectant. Dispose of contaminated materials following facility guidelines.

Dispose of waste correctly. Peptide solutions don’t go down drains. Your institution has protocols for biological and chemical waste disposal. Follow them.

Consult safety data. Material Safety Data Sheets provide hazard information, first aid procedures, and disposal requirements for specific compounds. Obtain and review these for each peptide.

Stability Factors

Peptide stability varies based on their specific chemistry. Factors include the amino acid sequence, where certain residues are more prone to oxidation or aggregation, the pH of reconstituted solutions, contamination from metal ions or other substances, and cumulative exposure to heat, light, and oxygen.

Research stability characteristics for any peptide before working with it. Published studies and supplier documentation provide storage recommendations and expected shelf life under various conditions.

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Sound protocols produce sound research. Handle compounds correctly from receipt through disposal.