Peptide Storage Guide: Best Practices for Laboratory Stability

Introduction

Proper storage of research peptides is essential to maintaining their structural integrity, biological activity, and experimental reproducibility. Incorrect storage conditions are one of the most common causes of peptide degradation in laboratory settings.

For research and laboratory use only.

Lyophilised (Freeze-Dried) Peptides

• Temperature: Store at −20°C as standard. For long-term archival of sensitive peptides (e.g. IGF-1 LR3, Epithalon), −80°C is preferred.
• Moisture: Keep vials tightly sealed. Allow to reach room temperature before opening to prevent condensation.
• Light: Store in the dark or in amber vials. UV exposure causes oxidation of methionine and tryptophan residues.
• Desiccant: Store with silica gel packets to absorb residual moisture.

Reconstituted Peptides

• Bacteriostatic Water: Store at 2–8°C for up to 28 days.
• Sterile Water: Use within 5–7 days at 2–8°C.
• Acetic Acid Solution: Use promptly or aliquot and freeze.

Freeze-Thaw Cycles

Repeated freeze-thaw cycles are a primary cause of peptide degradation. Each cycle introduces mechanical stress and can cause aggregation or denaturation.

• Aliquot into single-use volumes before freezing.
• Limit freeze-thaw cycles to a maximum of 2–3.
• Never refreeze a thawed aliquot used in an assay.

Peptide-Specific Considerations

• GLP-1 analogues (Semaglutide, Tirzepatide, Retatrutide): Store lyophilised at −20°C. Once reconstituted, refrigerate and use within 28 days.
• HGH and IGF peptides: Sensitive to agitation and temperature fluctuation. Avoid vortexing.
• Cysteine-containing peptides: Susceptible to oxidation. Minimise air exposure.

Labelling Standards

All stored vials should be labelled with: peptide name, batch number, concentration, solvent used, date of reconstitution, researcher initials, and expiry date.

Storage Summary

All products supplied by Vanta Labs are intended strictly for laboratory and research purposes.