What Are Peptides?

Peptides are short chains of amino acids — the same building blocks that make up proteins. While proteins can contain hundreds or thousands of amino acids, peptides typically consist of 2 to 50 amino acids linked together by peptide bonds.

Because of their small size, peptides can interact with specific receptors and signalling pathways in the body with a high degree of precision. This selectivity is what makes them so valuable in research — they can modulate biological processes without the broad, non-specific effects of many conventional compounds.

Peptides occur naturally throughout the body. Hormones like insulin, growth hormone, and oxytocin are all peptides. Researchers synthesise analogues of these natural peptides to study their mechanisms, extend their half-lives, or enhance their receptor affinity.

Research-grade peptides are synthesised using solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS), a technique that builds the amino acid chain step by step on a solid resin support. The final product is lyophilised (freeze-dried) into a powder for stability during storage and shipping.