How to Store Research Peptides: Lyophilized and Reconstituted
Peptides degrade through oxidation, hydrolysis and aggregation. Good storage practice slows all three and keeps experimental material consistent from the first run to the last.
Lyophilized (powder) storage
Unopened lyophilized peptides are most stable cold and dry. Short-term storage in a refrigerator at 2 to 8°C is common, and many labs store vials at -20°C or below for long-term stability.
Keep vials sealed, away from light, and in a low-humidity environment. Allow a cold vial to reach room temperature before opening so moisture does not condense on the powder.
Reconstituted storage
Once in solution, peptides degrade faster. Store reconstituted vials refrigerated at 2 to 8°C, protected from light, and use them within the timeframe supported by the literature for that compound.
If a solution must be kept longer, divide it into single-use aliquots and freeze them. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles, which can cause aggregation and loss of activity.
Sensitive residues
Sequences containing methionine, cysteine or tryptophan are prone to oxidation. Minimizing headspace air and light exposure helps. Copper peptides such as GHK-Cu and cofactors such as NAD+ have their own stability considerations, so check the product specification.
Labeling and records
Label every vial with the compound, lot number, date received, date reconstituted, concentration and diluent. Matching the lot number to the batch certificate keeps your results traceable.
All Niho Labs materials are for laboratory research use only and are not for human consumption.