Plain-language definitions of the terminology that recurs throughout this library. Where a term appears in a peptide profile, this is what it means.
- Peptide
- A short chain of amino acids — smaller than a protein — that often acts as a signaling molecule in the body.
- Amino acid
- The molecular building block of peptides and proteins. Sequence determines a peptide's shape and function.
- Translational research
- Research that moves a discovery from the laboratory toward practical human application — 'from bench to bedside.'
- Clinical trial phases
- Human studies run in stages: Phase 1 tests safety, Phase 2 looks for an efficacy signal, and Phase 3 confirms results at scale before regulatory review.
- Lyophilized
- Freeze-dried into a stable powder. Research peptides are supplied lyophilized to preserve integrity during storage and shipping.
- Reconstitution
- Dissolving a lyophilized peptide into solution in the laboratory, per the investigator's protocol.
- HPLC
- High-Performance Liquid Chromatography — the analytical method used to confirm a peptide's purity, typically reported on a Certificate of Analysis.
- Certificate of Analysis (COA)
- A third-party document verifying a compound's identity and purity by methods such as HPLC and mass spectrometry.
- In vitro
- Research performed on cells or tissue outside a living organism — literally 'in glass.' Ideal for uncovering mechanism.
- In vivo
- Research performed within a living organism, most often an animal model.
- Preclinical
- Research conducted before human trials — in vitro and animal studies that build the case for clinical investigation.
- Angiogenesis
- The formation of new blood vessels. A recurring mechanism in tissue-repair peptide research.
- Incretin
- A gut hormone (such as GLP-1 or GIP) released after eating that amplifies insulin secretion.
- GLP-1
- Glucagon-like peptide-1, an incretin hormone central to metabolic research and the target of GLP-1 receptor agonists.
- Receptor agonist
- A molecule that binds and activates a specific receptor, triggering its downstream signaling.
- Half-life
- The time for half of a compound to be cleared or degraded — a key determinant of how long its activity persists.
- Research Use Only (RUO)
- A designation meaning a material is intended for laboratory research — the stage at which the human evidence base is generated.
- Bacteriostatic water
- Sterile water containing 0.9% benzyl alcohol, used in laboratory settings to reconstitute lyophilized peptides.
