Proper storage is essential for both maintaining the integrity of peptides and ensuring the credibility of the lab results, since this is why our peptides are primarily used.
Storing Lyophilized Peptides
Most peptides (including those currently sold on our website) come in a lyophilized state. Lyophilization is a process of preserving material through water removal. The material is first frozen, then heated to allow water to evaporate. The result of this process are peptides in stable, powder form, suitable for transport.
There are several things to keep in mind when it comes to storing lyophilized peptides. The first one is, the peptides should be kept at a minimum of -20 degrees C (-4 Fahrenheit), in a dark place with no sunlight and little moisture.
The second thing is lyophilized peptides don’t do well in repeated thaw-freeze cycles, as they degrade. For this reason, if you’re looking to use a peptide in a lab procedure, make sure you measure out the exact amount you need, rather than thawing the entire content of a vial and putting the remainder into the fridge.
And third, some peptides are prone to oxidation while others to absorbing moisture out of the air. These qualities depend on the amino acids building up that particular peptide; for this reason, it’s important to follow the storage instructions you receive alongside the peptide you purchase, since not all peptides are stored the same.
These recommendations fall under the category of long-term storage, where the storage period can last up to several years. In the next section, we’re going to be talking about shorter peptide storage.
Storing Peptides In A Solution
Of course, peptide solution is going to be much less stable and less susceptible to long term storage. Such peptides are susceptible to bacterial degradation, so it’s definitely not recommended. If you absolutely have to store peptides in such a state, you should make an effort to do it correctly.
First of all, split the large volume into smaller batches which you will then freeze. Keeping it all in one place will force you to thaw the entire volume, use a portion of it and then put the rest back into the freezer. Just like lyophilized peptides, these do not handle thaw-freeze cycles well.
It’s generally recommended to keep the peptides at -20 degrees (just like the lyophilized ones), but they will “only” be stable for 3-4 months. And if you manage to drop the temperature down to -80 degrees Celsius (-112 Fahrenheit), they should be stable for up to one year.
The important thing to note about storing peptides in a solution is to minimize their time outside the refrigerator since they quickly absorb atmospheric water. This is why we recommend splitting the dosage into separate containers (of desired weight) so you can just thaw the one you need to use immediately.
Preparing The Peptide For Handling/Usage
The peptide preparation process is not that complicated but you need to make sure you follow these steps carefully.
First, you need to take the peptide out of the refrigerator and let it warm up to reach room temperature. Once the peptide reaches room temperature, it’s on to the next step.
Second, you need to open the peptide vial and weigh out the desired peptide quantity. Remember we talked about splitting up the total peptide volume into smaller quantities and freezing them separately? This is where this comes in handy as you can thaw the exact amount you need. Otherwise, you move on to step three.
Third, once you are done measuring the exact peptide quantity you need for your lab experiment, make sure you reseal the vial and put it back into the refrigerator.
Fourth, the temperature you put it back in will depend on the duration of the storage – if you’d like to use the rest of the vial in the next couple days, you can set it to 4 degrees Celsius (39.2 Fahrenheit). And if you’d like a more long-term storage, lower the temperature back down to -20 Celsius.
References:
1.Case Study: From Discovery to Phase I, Rapid Delivery of a Complex Peptide Conjugate in 10 Months
2.Case Study: An Integrated Solution to Accelerate a Radionuclide Drug Conjugate to IND
3.Empowering Highly Potent Peptide Drug Conjugate Scale-up with Flow Chemistry
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