Research peptides are supplied as a lyophilisate: a freeze-dried powder in a sealed vial. In that form, most peptides keep well. Even so, how you store them makes a big difference to the quality of your research material. In this article you can read what to look out for.
Long-term storage: −20 °C
For long-term storage, a −20 °C freezer is the standard in most laboratories. At that temperature, degradation processes such as oxidation and hydrolysis proceed very slowly. An unopened vial of lyophilisate stays stable for months to years this way, depending on the peptide.
Short-term storage: 2–8 °C
If you will use the material within a few weeks, a refrigerator at 2–8 °C is sufficient. Don’t put the vial in the door, where the temperature fluctuates the most, but at the back.
Light and moisture
- Light: some peptides are sensitive to UV light. Store vials in the dark, in their box or in a closed container.
- Moisture: lyophilisate attracts moisture. Let a cold vial come to room temperature before opening it, so no moisture condenses on the powder.
After reconstitution
Once a peptide has been brought into solution, it is far less stable than as a powder. In research protocols, a solution is therefore usually kept at 2–8 °C and used within a few weeks. Repeated freezing and thawing is discouraged, as it can damage the peptide chains. If you want to keep material for longer, divide it into smaller portions beforehand.
What else to watch
- Note the batch number and the date of receipt on every vial.
- Keep the batch’s COA (COA) with your documentation.
- Use the oldest batch first.
All products at Peptide Europe are intended strictly for scientific research and not for human consumption.