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How to store lyophilised peptides in the lab

Storage temperatures, light, moisture and freeze-thaw cycles for lyophilised (freeze-dried) research peptides, before and after reconstitution.

What lyophilised means

Lyophilised peptides have been freeze-dried: frozen, then dried under vacuum so the water leaves as vapour. What's left is a dry powder or "cake" that is far more stable than the peptide in solution.

Before the vial is opened

Most lyophilised peptides keep best sealed, at −20 °C, away from light. Some, such as GHK-Cu, are usually kept at 2–8 °C. The storage line on each vial label says which applies.

Keep the vial in its box or another dark container, and avoid storing it in a freezer door, where the temperature swings each time it's opened.

Moisture is the main enemy

Lyophilised powder absorbs moisture from the air. Before opening a vial that has been frozen, let it come up to room temperature while still sealed, so condensation doesn't form on the powder inside.

After reconstitution

Once a peptide is dissolved it is much less stable. Reconstituted solutions are usually kept refrigerated at 2–8 °C and used within the period your laboratory's protocol sets.

Avoid repeated freezing and thawing. If a solution needs to be kept longer, many labs divide it into single-use aliquots before freezing, so each portion is only thawed once.

Label everything

Record the peptide, the amount, the date it was reconstituted and the solvent used on every vial and aliquot, and follow your laboratory's own protocols and safety data for handling and disposal.

All products are sold strictly for in-vitro laboratory research. They are not medicines, food or cosmetics, and are not for human or veterinary use. Nothing on this page is medical advice.