Reference
Research peptide guides
Clear, science-led explanations written for researchers. What each compound is, what the published literature examines, and how the paperwork works. Every guide is framed for in-vitro laboratory research use only.
Start here · 7 min read
What are research peptides?
A plain introduction to peptide chemistry, how research peptides are made, and why laboratories use them as tools to study cell signalling.
Read the guide
LegalAre peptides legal in the UK?
An overview of how UK medicines law treats research peptides, what research use only means legally, and why this guide is information rather than legal advice.
7 MIN READ- Legal
Are peptides legal in the US? (2026 FDA status)
Where BPC-157, TB-500, GHK-Cu, KPV and NAD+ stand with the FDA in 2026: the 503A compounding categories, the July 2026 advisory committee vote, the October 2026 interim access policy, research use only sales and what is still pending.
8 MIN READ - Legal
Are peptides legal in Australia? (2026 TGA status)
How the TGA treats BPC-157, TB-500, GHK-Cu and other peptides in 2026: prescription-only scheduling, the June 2026 compliance priority and joint statement, seizures and court action, and what that means for buyers.
7 MIN READ 
Quality & COAWhat is a certificate of analysis?
How to read a peptide certificate of analysis, what HPLC and mass spectrometry results actually tell you, and the warning signs of a poor or fabricated COA.
6 MIN READ
Quality & COAHow to store research peptides
Why lyophilised and in-solution peptides have very different stability profiles, and how that shapes correct storage, light exposure and handling practice.
4 MIN READ
BuyingBuying research peptides in the UK: a buyer's checklist
A practical checklist for evaluating UK peptide suppliers, covering certificates of analysis, exact mass per component, format, cold-chain shipping and legal framing.
6 MIN READ
Quality & COABacteriostatic water and peptide stability
What bacteriostatic water is, why lyophilised peptides are normally reconstituted with it, and why a pre-filled, pre-mixed pen removes that step entirely.
6 MIN READ
CompoundsWhat is NAD+?
NAD+ is a redox coenzyme, not a peptide: how it works in cellular chemistry, why sirtuins, PARPs and CD38 rely on it, and how it is supplied as a research compound.
9 MIN READ
The pensWhat is the GLOW Pen?
A breakdown of the GLOW Pen's three-component formulation, how it compares to KLOW and WOLVERINE, and what the certificate of analysis actually records.
9 MIN READ
The pensWhat is the KLOW Pen?
KLOW is the GLOW formulation plus KPV: what that fourth component adds, the resulting mass per click, and how the combination compares to GLOW and WOLVERINE.
7 MIN READ
The pensWhat is the WOLVERINE Pen?
The WOLVERINE Pen pairs BPC-157 and TB-500 in a single cartridge: the exact composition, why these two compounds are commonly studied together, and what it does not include.
5 MIN READ
The pensHow the Celyfe pen works
The mechanics of the Celyfe precision pen: the click ratchet and threaded rod, 0.01ml per click, priming, needle compatibility, and why it is a volumetric device, not a dosing device.
4 MIN READ
CompoundsWhat is BPC-157?
BPC-157 is a synthetic pentadecapeptide derived from a sequence found in gastric juice: its structure, sequence, and the research pathways it is studied in.
6 MIN READ
CompoundsWhat is TB-500?
TB-500 is a synthetic peptide related to thymosin beta-4, studied for its actin-binding activity and role in cell migration research.
9 MIN READ
CompoundsWhat is GHK-Cu?
GHK-Cu is a naturally occurring copper tripeptide studied in extracellular matrix and gene-expression research literature: its structure, chemistry and study areas.
10 MIN READ
CompoundsWhat is KPV?
KPV is the tripeptide fragment Lys-Pro-Val, derived from alpha-MSH, studied in inflammatory-signalling literature as a minimal active sequence.
5 MIN READ
CompoundsBPC-157 vs TB-500: how the two compounds compare
A side-by-side comparison of BPC-157 and TB-500: origin, length, the mechanisms each is studied for, and why they are commonly formulated together.
6 MIN READ- Quality & COA
How to read a peptide COA (certificate of analysis), 2026
A field-by-field walk-through of a peptide certificate of analysis: what each line proves, the difference between purity, identity and content, and an annotated example using Celyfe's published NAD+ certificate (batch A26085).
10 MIN READ - Quality & COA
HPLC vs mass spectrometry for peptides: purity vs identity
Why HPLC measures purity and mass spectrometry confirms identity, how truncated and deletion sequences can slip through a UV purity test, and what LC-MS adds to a peptide certificate.
8 MIN READ - Quality & COA
Peptide net content vs purity: why 99% isn't 99% by mass
What net peptide content means, how counter-ions such as TFA and acetate and absorbed water reduce the peptide share of a powder, and how a measured mg/ml result relates to the label claim.
8 MIN READ - Quality & COA
Peptide endotoxin and sterility testing: LAL, USP <71>
What endotoxin (LAL and recombinant factor C), sterility and heavy metal tests measure, the pharmacopoeia methods behind them, and what research peptide certificates usually do and do not include.
8 MIN READ - Quality & COA
Independent peptide testing explained: labs and fake COAs
How third-party peptide testing works, the difference between vendor-submitted and independently sourced samples, what ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation means, and how to check that a COA is real.
8 MIN READ - Quality & COA
Peptide glossary: 60+ research terms explained
Plain one-sentence definitions of the chemistry, synthesis, testing, storage and documentation terms used in peptide research, from amino acid to UV detection.
10 MIN READ - The pens
Peptide pen vs vial: pre-filled cartridge or lyophilised powder?
How a pre-filled peptide pen cartridge compares with a lyophilised (freeze-dried) vial: format, preparation steps, stability trade-offs, cold chain, sterility and how to compare cost per mg.
8 MIN READ 
CompoundsGLOW vs KLOW vs WOLVERINE: peptide blends compared
Exact compositions of the GLOW, KLOW and WOLVERINE research pens, what each compound is studied for in the published literature, how the blend names vary between sellers, and where each certificate stands.
9 MIN READ
CompoundsWhat is a peptide blend? How to read blend labels and COAs
How to read a peptide blend label: what 10/10 means, total mg versus mg of each compound, mg per ml, why ratios differ between sellers, and what a certificate of analysis must show for a blend.
7 MIN READ- Compounds
Is NAD+ a peptide? What NAD+ actually is
NAD+ is not a peptide. It is a dinucleotide coenzyme built from two nucleotides, with no amino acids. This guide covers its structure, why it is sold alongside peptides, and how it behaves in solution.
7 MIN READ - Compounds
NAD+ vs NMN vs NADH: structure, research and legal status
How NAD+, NMN and NADH differ in structure and role in the NAD+ metabolome, how oral and injectable forms appear in research, and where NMN stands with the US FDA and EU novel food rules in 2026.
9 MIN READ - Compounds
Do peptides expire? Peptide shelf life and stability explained
How long research peptides keep, why freeze-dried powder outlasts solutions, the temperature bands on labels, light and oxidation, how pre-filled cartridges are handled, and what published data say about BPC-157, TB-500, GHK-Cu, KPV and NAD+.
9 MIN READ - Buying
Buying research peptides online: a global checklist (2026)
A buyer's checklist for research peptides anywhere in the world: certificate verification, laboratory independence, batch match, cold chain, company identity, payment, customs and local law, and the red flags to walk away from.
9 MIN READ - Compounds
Thymosin beta-4: structure, research and legal status (2026)
Thymosin beta-4 is a 43-amino-acid actin-binding peptide found in most human cells. Its identity data, how it was discovered, what has been studied in cell, animal and human models, trial status and where it stands with the FDA, MHRA, TGA and WADA in 2026.
9 MIN READ - Compounds
MOTS-c peptide: structure, research and legal status (2026)
MOTS-c is a 16-amino-acid peptide encoded in mitochondrial DNA. Its identity data, discovery in 2015, what has been studied in cell, animal and human samples, the July 2026 FDA advisory review and its WADA status.
8 MIN READ - Compounds
Epitalon peptide: structure, research and legal status (2026)
Epitalon (Epithalon) is a synthetic tetrapeptide, Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly, developed in Russia in the late 1980s. Its identity data, origin, the cell and animal work on telomerase and the pineal gland, the July 2026 FDA advisory review and its status with the MHRA, TGA and WADA.
8 MIN READ - Compounds
SS-31 (elamipretide): structure, research and FDA status (2026)
SS-31, now known as elamipretide, is a mitochondria-targeted tetrapeptide that became the first FDA-approved treatment for Barth syndrome in September 2025 under accelerated approval. Its identity data, origin, research by model, trial IDs and regulatory status.
8 MIN READ - Compounds
LL-37 peptide: structure, research and legal status (2026)
LL-37 is the only human cathelicidin, a 37-amino-acid antimicrobial peptide cut from the hCAP18 precursor. Its identity data, discovery, research by model, registered trials and regulatory status in 2026.
8 MIN READ - Compounds
AHK-Cu peptide: structure, research and legal status (2026)
AHK-Cu is a copper(II) complex of the synthetic tripeptide Ala-His-Lys, a close analogue of GHK-Cu. Its identity data, how it relates to GHK-Cu, the limited published research, regulatory status and handling notes.
7 MIN READ - Compounds
Selank and Semax: structure, research and legal status (2026)
Selank and Semax are synthetic heptapeptides developed in Russia, both ending in Pro-Gly-Pro. Their identity data side by side, origins, research by model, the July 2026 FDA review of Semax and their status with the MHRA, TGA and WADA.
9 MIN READ - Compounds
Thymosin beta-4 vs TB-500: what is the difference? (2026)
Thymosin beta-4 is a natural 43-amino-acid peptide; TB-500 is a synthetic 7-amino-acid acetylated fragment of it. A side-by-side comparison of identity, research, trials and regulation, why the two are confused, and which Celyfe pens contain TB-500.
8 MIN READ - Compounds
BPC-157 vs KPV: structure, research and differences (2026)
BPC-157 is a 15-amino-acid fragment of a gastric protein; KPV is a 3-amino-acid fragment of alpha-MSH. A side-by-side comparison of identity, research models and 2026 regulatory status, why they get grouped together, and which Celyfe pens contain each.
8 MIN READ - Compounds
GHK-Cu vs AHK-Cu: copper peptides compared (2026)
GHK-Cu and AHK-Cu are copper(II) complexes of tripeptides that differ by one amino acid. A side-by-side comparison of identity, origin, research depth and regulatory status, why they are mixed up, and which Celyfe pens contain GHK-Cu.
7 MIN READ - Compounds
BPC-157 acetate vs free base vs arginate: salt forms (2026)
BPC-157 is sold as a free base, an acetate salt and an arginine salt (arginate). What differs chemically between them, what the FDA's July 2026 review said about free base and acetate, what the arginate patents claim, and how Celyfe documents the BPC-157 in the WOLVERINE Pen.
9 MIN READ - Legal
Peptide regulation tracker 2026: FDA, MHRA, TGA updates
A dated, sourced timeline of peptide regulation in the US, UK and Australia from 2023 to October 2026: FDA compounding categories and the July 2026 advisory votes, MHRA enforcement, the TGA's 2026 peptide crackdown and the WADA Prohibited List.
10 MIN READ - Legal
Is BPC-157 legal? US, UK and Australia status (2026)
The legal status of BPC-157 in the US, UK and Australia as of October 2026: the FDA's Category 2 history and July 2026 advisory vote, UK medicines law, Australia's Schedule 4 listing, and its WADA S0 status.
8 MIN READ - Legal
Is TB-500 legal? US, UK and Australia status (2026)
The legal status of TB-500, the synthetic thymosin beta-4 fragment, in the US, UK and Australia as of October 2026, plus its WADA S2 status and what the July 2026 FDA advisory vote did and did not change.
7 MIN READ - Legal
Is GHK-Cu legal? Topical vs injectable status (2026)
GHK-Cu legal status in the US, UK and Australia as of October 2026, separating topical cosmetic copper tripeptide-1 from injectable GHK-Cu, with the FDA's 2026 category changes, the TGA's enforcement priority and WADA status.
8 MIN READ - Legal
Is KPV legal? US, UK and Australia status (2026)
The legal status of the tripeptide KPV in the US, UK and Australia as of October 2026: FDA Category 2 history, the July 2026 advisory vote, UK medicines law, Australia's rules on unapproved peptides and where KPV stands in sport.
7 MIN READ - Legal
Is NAD+ injection legal? US, UK and Australia (2026)
Where NAD+ injections and IV infusions stand legally in the US, UK and Australia in October 2026: FDA compounding Category 1, UK unlicensed medicines rules, the TGA's NAD alert, and WADA's 100 mL infusion limit.
7 MIN READ - Legal
Is MOTS-c legal? US, UK and Australia status (2026)
MOTS-c legal status in the US, UK and Australia as of October 2026: its FDA Category 2 history and 7-5 advisory vote in July 2026, UK medicines law, Australia's unapproved peptide rules and its named WADA S4 listing.
7 MIN READ - Legal
Are peptides banned in sport? WADA 2026 status
Which peptides are banned under the 2026 WADA Prohibited List and why: S0 non-approved substances, S2 peptide hormones and growth factors, S4 metabolic modulators, the infusion rule, the 2027 change, and NCAA, USADA, UKAD and Sport Integrity Australia guidance.
9 MIN READ - Compounds
Peptide Storage Chart: Fridge, Freezer and Room-Temperature Data (2026)
Published storage data for 10 research compounds and the pre-filled pen format in one table. Supplier data quoted by the FDA put lyophilised BPC-157 at 3 weeks at room temperature and BPC-157 in solution at 2-3 weeks at 4 °C; KPV powder at up to 3 years at -20 °C; the approved elamipretide (SS-31) vial at 2 to 8 °C, 8 days after opening. Thymosin beta-4 and LL-37 have no published stability data.
7 MIN READ - Compounds
Peptide Half-Life Chart: BPC-157 5-15 Minutes in Animals, Most With No Human Data (2026)
Reported half-lives for 10 research compounds, each with species, route and PubMed source. BPC-157: 15.2 minutes in rats and 5.3 minutes in dogs after IV dosing. Recombinant thymosin beta-4: 0.5 to 2.08 hours in healthy volunteers. No published half-life for GHK-Cu, KPV, epitalon or LL-37, and no human half-life for BPC-157, TB-500, KPV, MOTS-c or epitalon.
6 MIN READ - Legal
Is It FDA Approved? Peptide Status Chart 2026 - Only Elamipretide Has an Approval
FDA, MHRA, TGA and WADA status for 10 compounds in one table, as of October 2026. Only elamipretide (SS-31, as Forzinity) is FDA approved, for Barth syndrome. BPC-157, TB-500 and KPV won 8-6 PCAC votes and MOTS-c 7-5 in July 2026, with rulemaking pending; BPC-157 and TB-500 are Schedule 4 in Australia; WADA names BPC-157 (S0), TB-500 (S2.3) and MOTS-c (S4.4.1).
7 MIN READ