Lyophilization, Explained
Lyophilization is the freeze-drying process behind every powder vial in this catalog. This page covers what the process does, what the resulting powder looks like, and how a sealed vial is generally handled once it reaches a laboratory.
What lyophilization does
Lyophilization removes water from a frozen peptide solution under vacuum, leaving behind a dry, stable powder without exposing the material to the heat a standard drying process would require. The peptide's structure is preserved in a solid, low-moisture form.
Why research peptides are supplied this way
Peptides are generally less stable in solution than in dry form. Supplying a research peptide as a lyophilized powder extends how long the material holds its stated specification between packaging and use, compared with a liquid preparation of the same compound.
What the powder looks like
Most entries in this catalog describe a white to off-white lyophilized powder or cake that lines the bottom of the vial. Some multi-component blends and colored formulations vary in appearance, as noted on the individual product page; appearance is one of the specification fields listed there.
Handling a sealed vial
As a general practice, a sealed lyophilized vial is kept sealed, kept dry, kept cool, and kept out of direct light until it is used in a controlled laboratory setting. Specific storage conditions and stability data for a given batch are set out in that batch's documentation, which is confirmed on request. This page describes the sealed, freeze-dried material exactly as supplied.