Selank is a synthetic heptapeptide — a chain of seven amino acids — developed in Russia and studied in laboratory settings. Store it freeze-dried (lyophilized) at 2–8 °C, or at –20 °C for long-term. Read on for storage details and what to look for in a COA.
What Is Selank Peptide
Selank is a lab-made analogue of tuftsin, a naturally occurring peptide. Researchers extended the tuftsin sequence and added a proline-proline-glycine tail to slow how fast the molecule breaks down. The result is a seven-amino-acid peptide with the sequence Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro.
Most published research on selank comes from Russian institutions, particularly the Institute of Molecular Genetics in Moscow, where it was originally synthesised.
Selank is not an approved drug in the US, UK, or EU. In Russia it has been approved as a prescription nasal spray. Everywhere else it exists in a grey zone: legal to possess and research in many jurisdictions, but not approved for human therapeutic use.
Selank Storage Temperature
Lyophilised selank — the dry powder form it ships in — is stable at 2–8 °C for up to 12 months when kept sealed. For storage beyond a year, –20 °C is the better option. At that temperature, degradation essentially stops.
Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles. Each one stresses the peptide and can fragment some of the chains.
Two things degrade peptides fastest: heat and moisture. A vial left at room temperature loses potency within weeks. A vial stored in a humid environment can absorb water through tiny imperfections in the seal, and that moisture begins breaking down the peptide bonds.
Practical storage rules:
- Dry powder, short term (under 12 months): 2–8 °C, sealed, away from light
- Dry powder, long term: –20 °C
- Reconstituted solution: 2–8 °C, use within 28–30 days
- Never store a reconstituted vial in a frost-free freezer — the temperature cycling damages it
- Keep vials in the original sealed packaging until you are ready to use them
Selank COA
A COA — certificate of analysis — is a document from a third-party testing lab that shows what is actually in the vial you bought. For selank, a useful COA will show at minimum three things.
First, identity confirmation. The most reliable method is mass spectrometry, which measures the molecular weight of the peptide directly. Selank has a molecular weight of 751.9 Da. If the COA shows a mass spec result matching that figure, the peptide is almost certainly selank and not a substituted compound.
Second, purity percentage. This is measured by HPLC — a technique that separates the peptide from any contaminants or fragments and measures how much of the total sample is the target compound. For research-grade selank, look for purity above 98%. Numbers below 95% suggest either poor synthesis or degradation during storage or shipping.
Third, the test date. A COA dated more than 18–24 months ago tells you nothing about what is in the vial today. Peptides can degrade between testing and delivery, especially if the cold chain was broken somewhere in transit.
Some COAs also include endotoxin testing (checking for bacterial contamination) and moisture content. Those are useful to have but less common on standard research documents.
When you read a selank COA, match the lot number on the document to the lot number printed on the vial. If they differ, the COA is not for your product.
Handling and Reconstitution Notes
Bacteriostatic water — water with 0.9% benzyl alcohol added to slow bacterial growth — is the standard choice for reconstituting research peptides. Plain sterile water contains no preservative, so any bacteria introduced during use will multiply quickly. Bacteriostatic water extends the usable life of a reconstituted vial to around 30 days in the fridge.
When adding water to the vial, direct it slowly down the inside wall rather than onto the peptide cake. Swirl gently rather than shaking — shaking can physically shear the peptide chains apart.
Summary
Selank is a seven-amino-acid research peptide. Store the dry powder at 2–8 °C for up to a year, or at –20 °C for longer. After reconstitution with bacteriostatic water, refrigerate and use within 30 days. When reviewing a COA, check for mass spectrometry identity confirmation, HPLC purity above 98%, a recent test date, and a lot number that matches your vial.
NXT Labs products are sold strictly as research chemicals for in vitro research, laboratory testing and analytical purposes only, and are not intended for use in any human or animal application.
NXT Labs supplies research peptides for laboratory use. Browse the full range or view current Certificates of Analysis.
