Tom @ ProPeptides writes:
Generally, all peptides would be lyophilised inside the vial – this is for a few reasons, but mainly because it’s both the most accurate & simplest method.
It would be possible to synthesise the peptide, make it into a powder and then split into multiple vials but would be highly inaccurate and labour intensive, as well as unsanitary.
For modern peptide synthesis its helpful to understand some of the process;
1 – the peptide is synthesised, then isolated or otherwise purified.
2 – the peptide will either be in a solution of water at this point, or will be dissolved into water.
3 – based on the synthesis, we’ll know how much material we have, for example if it was a simple 10g microsynthesis, we’d have 10,000mg – enough to make 1000 vials at 10mg each.
4 – using this information, we’ll then know how much solution we need. For the sake of simplicity we’ll say we need 1L – and then each vial is 10mg/1mL.
5 – we’ll then fill 1000 vials with 1mL each, so every vial is identical.
6 – the rubber stopper is applied, and it goes into a machine called a lyophiliser – or ‘freeze drier’.
7 – this machine will both freeze the solution and create a vacuum to pull out the water vapour/ice.
8 – the vials are capped, and will be shelf stable & ready to use.
In pretty much all cases, we’re looking for the vial to be around ‘half full’ with perfectly formed powder – as keeping it this way means the solution hasn’t collapsed.
When looking at how full a vial is, it can be deceptive. Most of what looks like powder is actually air/vacuum, and only a tiny amount of powder in the matrix.
Being half full is ideal because it means the correct settings for temperature & vacuum were used.
Generally having a very tight puck at the bottom is a sign of incorrect temp and can damage the peptide.
During handling or shipping, it is possible for the vial to be shaken/knocked and the powder to break apart which is likely what you’re used to seeing. This doesn’t affect the peptide in most cases.
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With that in mind, it may be the case with yours that it was lyophilised incorrectly, or it may be that they’ve started with less solution anyway – hard to tell from an image.
In terms of adulterants, it is possible but not often done. There’s a lot of talk on the internet of things like mannitol, but remembering what we said about the visual appearance of the vial mainly being air/vacuum, there’s little need for fillers as they can make the powder look as big or small as they need to.
It’s generally more likely an impure synthesis or damaged peptide causing the affects you feel.
We test all of our peptides, these would cover purity, active ingredient mass, and contaminants (although this is linked to purity, as the only contaminants in our vials would be an impure synthesis).
We only sell MT2 that is above 99.7% pure (the feasible maximum, the other 0.3% would be inert unsynthesised amino acids.
All of our testing is outsourced to 3rd party labs, usually testing around 10 vials from a 1000 vial batch.
Generally this is at a cost of ~£500 so not something we’d likely be able to line up for you for a single vial.
I believe there are groups on sites like Reddit that crowdfund testing from various Chinese suppliers – you may be able to see if they have information on your supplier, or if they’re looking to test your supplier and you can pay a share of the cost for the results.
Hours to dissolve is certainly odd, though. Is this the same peptide you’re not using nasally with no side effects?
Kind regards
Tom @ ProPeptides