How to reconstitute research peptides

BritishPeps research team · Updated 18 July 2026 · ~7 min read

Most research peptides ship as a lyophilised powder, because that is the most stable way to store and transport them. Before they can be used in the laboratory they must be reconstituted — dissolved back into liquid. This guide describes the process as a laboratory procedure. It is informational and concerns in-vitro handling only; nothing here is guidance for human or veterinary use.

What you need

Your lyophilised peptide vial (for example, BPC-157 or Ipamorelin)
A solvent: most commonly bacteriostatic water (water with 0.9% benzyl alcohol) or 0.6% acetic acid for peptides with poor water solubility
A sterile syringe to transfer the solvent
Alcohol wipes and a clean, controlled work surface

Step by step

Let the vial come to room temperature. Take the lyophilised vial out of cold storage and let it warm through, which reduces condensation.
Disinfect the stoppers. Wipe the rubber stopper of both the peptide vial and the solvent vial with an alcohol wipe.
Draw up the solvent. Measure your chosen volume of bacteriostatic water into the syringe. The volume you pick determines the final concentration (see below).
Add it slowly. Let the solvent run gently down the inside wall of the vial rather than jetting it straight onto the powder: peptides are delicate, and harsh mixing can degrade them.
Do not shake. Swirl the vial gently or let the powder dissolve on its own. Shaking creates shear stress.
Store it properly. Once reconstituted, keep the solution refrigerated at 2–8 °C and protected from light.

How to work out the concentration

Concentration is simply the amount of peptide divided by the volume of solvent. A 10 mg vial reconstituted with 2 ml of water gives 5 mg/ml. Rather than doing the arithmetic by hand, use our reconstitution calculator: enter the vial amount, the volume of bacteriostatic water and the amount per draw, and it returns the concentration and the matching syringe units for your laboratory records.

Which solvent should you use?

Bacteriostatic water is the general-purpose choice for most peptides, and because benzyl alcohol has a mild bacteriostatic effect it suits multi-draw research vials. A dilute acetic acid solution is sometimes used for peptides that are poorly soluble in water. The written specification on each product page states the recommended solvent where applicable.

Storage after reconstitution

Lyophilised vials are stored at −20 °C. Once in solution the peptide is less stable, so reconstituted vials are kept at 2–8 °C and used within the validated window stated on the specification. Keeping solutions cold and out of the light preserves the integrity of the compound for reproducible research.

Frequently asked questions

Is this a guide for human use?

No. Reconstitution is described here only as a laboratory procedure for in-vitro research. The products are not for human or veterinary use.

How much bacteriostatic water should I use?

There is no single answer: the volume sets the concentration. Pick a volume that gives a concentration convenient for your work, and use the reconstitution calculator to confirm the figures.

Can I shake the vial to dissolve it faster?

No. Shaking creates shear stress that can degrade peptides. Add the solvent gently down the vial wall and swirl, or simply wait.

For research use only. This content is informational and describes laboratory handling. The products mentioned are supplied exclusively for scientific and in-vitro laboratory research, not for human or veterinary use. You must be 18 or over to place an order.