What lyophilization is
Lyophilization, or freeze-drying, removes water from a product while it is frozen. It runs in three stages:
- Freezing: the filled vials are frozen on temperature-controlled shelves.
- Primary drying: under vacuum, ice sublimes directly to vapor.
- Secondary drying: remaining bound water is removed at a slightly higher temperature.
The vials are then stoppered, often under vacuum or inert gas, and crimp-sealed. What's left is a dry cake or powder.
Why peptides are supplied this way
In solution, peptides degrade through hydrolysis, oxidation, deamidation and aggregation. Removing the water slows these reactions sharply. A lyophilized product is more stable, more consistent from vial to vial, and tolerates ambient shipping far better than a liquid.
What to expect in the vial
- Color: white to off-white for most peptides. Some compounds are naturally colored; GHK-Cu, for example, is blue.
- Form: a solid cake, or loose powder if the cake breaks up in transit. Either is normal.
- Amount: the visible volume depends on strength and fill. It isn't a reliable indicator of content; the CoA is.
Shipping
Sealed lyophilized vials are stable at ambient temperature for the time a shipment is in transit. We ship orders placed by 3 pm Arizona time, usually the same day.
Storing sealed vials
- Keep vials sealed until use in the lab.
- Store cold, dry and away from light. Refrigerated (2–8 °C) suits shorter periods; frozen (−20 °C) is standard for long-term storage.
- Keep vials dry and protected from moisture.
- Follow the storage conditions on the label and the SDS for each product.
Questions about a specific lot? Scan the QR code on the vial, or use the CoA lookup.