Reconstitution, storage, and the practical questions peptide research raises.
A working reference for the compounds we supply. New to the field? Start with the primer.
The method.
Reconstitution is the process of returning a freeze-dried peptide to liquid form. Done well, the peptide retains its structure and remains usable for the weeks ahead. Done carelessly, the molecule can be damaged in the moment it dissolves. The difference is a few minutes of patience and a careful hand.
The method below works for every lyophilised peptide we supply.
Let the vial come to room temperature.
Draw bacteriostatic water into a clean syringe.
Add the water slowly, against the side of the glass.
Roll the vial gently between your palms.
Check the result.
The calculator.
Work out your draw in seconds. Enter the vial size, the bacteriostatic water you’ll add, and the dose, everything updates as you type.
Total peptide content of the vial, from its label.
Bacteriostatic water added to the vial.
How much peptide you want per dose.
Storage.
Peptides supplied lyophilised, that is, freeze-dried under vacuum, are remarkably stable in their dry form. Sealed under nitrogen and kept frozen at -20°C for long-term storage, or refrigerated at 2–8°C for shorter periods, an unopened vial remains usable for many months from the date of manufacture. Light and heat are the two factors that shorten this most. Keep the vial in its box, away from the door of the fridge if you can.
Once reconstituted, the solution is more delicate. Refrigerated at 2°C to 8°C, kept upright, and protected from light, most reconstituted peptides remain stable for several weeks under normal research conditions. The bacteriostatic water itself is part of the reason this works, the 0.9% benzyl alcohol it contains is a preservative that prevents bacterial growth in the multi-use vial.
Solution that has changed in colour, clarity, or smell since reconstitution should not be used. Discard and start fresh.
A note on freezing. Most reconstituted peptides should not be frozen. Freeze-thaw cycles damage peptide structure in ways that aren’t always visible. If a specific compound benefits from freezing, some do, that information sits with the compound itself, not as a general rule.
About bacteriostatic water.
Bacteriostatic water is the standard solvent for lyophilised peptide reconstitution. It is sterile water for injection containing 0.9% benzyl alcohol as a bacteriostatic preservative, the alcohol prevents bacterial growth in the vial after the seal has been broken and a needle has been introduced.
This is what allows a single vial of reconstituted peptide to be drawn from repeatedly over the course of weeks. Without the preservative, sterile water becomes a hospitable environment for bacteria within hours of being opened. With it, you have a working solution with a meaningful lifespan.
A sealed bottle of bacteriostatic water stored at room temperature, away from direct light, remains usable until the date printed on the label. Once opened, it remains usable for around 28 days under normal conditions, the standard pharmacopoeial figure for benzyl-alcohol-preserved water.
We supply bacteriostatic water alongside the peptide catalogue. Most lyophilised peptides will reconstitute in 1 to 2 ml per vial, so a 10 ml bottle covers several reconstitutions.
Glossary.
This page is provided for laboratory reference and theoretical dilution calculation. It is not dosing guidance, medical advice, or a recommendation for human or animal use. The values shown are mathematical conversions only. All compounds supplied by NOX are intended for in-vitro research and analytical reference. See our Research-Use-Only Agreement for the full position.
