How to Reconstitute
A general protocol for reconstituting lyophilized peptides for in-vitro research. Always defer to your laboratory’s standard operating procedures and the specific compound’s literature.
What you’ll need
- Lyophilized peptide vial (stored at –20 °C; allow to equilibrate to room temperature before opening)
- Bacteriostatic water (BAC water) — standard solvent for most peptides
- Sterile syringe with appropriate gauge needle
- Alcohol prep pads (70 % isopropyl)
- Personal protective equipment (gloves, eye protection)
Step-by-step
- Equilibrate. Remove the vial from the freezer and let it sit at room temperature for 15–20 minutes before opening. Do not shake.
- Sanitize. Wipe the rubber stopper of both the peptide vial and the BAC water vial with a fresh alcohol pad.
- Draw solvent. Using a sterile syringe, draw the calculated volume of BAC water based on your desired concentration (see chart below).
- Add slowly. Insert the needle into the peptide vial at an angle and let the BAC water run gently down the inside wall. Do not inject directly onto the powder — this can cause foaming and degradation.
- Dissolve. Gently swirl (do not shake or vortex). Allow 2–5 minutes for full dissolution. The solution should be clear; cloudy solutions indicate degradation.
- Label. Write the date of reconstitution and concentration on the vial.
- Store. Refrigerate at 2–8 °C. Use within the timeframe specified for that compound.
Concentration reference (10 mg vial)
| BAC water added | Concentration | Per 0.1 mL |
|---|---|---|
| 1 mL | 10 mg/mL | 1000 mcg |
| 2 mL | 5 mg/mL | 500 mcg |
| 3 mL | 3.33 mg/mL | 333 mcg |
| 5 mL | 2 mg/mL | 200 mcg |
Best practices
- Always use sterile technique inside a clean laboratory environment.
- Work quickly to minimize exposure to ambient temperature and light.
- Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles — they degrade peptide structure.
- If using sterile water (non-bacteriostatic), reconstituted solutions must be used the same day.
- Discard any solution that appears cloudy, discolored, or has visible particulates.
This guide is for in-vitro research only. Not for human consumption. Reconstitution of these compounds for human or animal administration is not authorized.