Glossary
Common terms used in peptide research and throughout this site.
- Amino Acid
- The building blocks of peptides and proteins. There are 20 standard amino acids, each with a unique side chain that determines its chemical properties.
- Bacteriostatic Water
- Sterile water containing 0.9% benzyl alcohol as a preservative. Used to reconstitute lyophilized peptides for injection.
- Bioavailability
- The proportion of a substance that enters systemic circulation and is able to have an active effect when introduced into the body.
- Clinical Trial
- A research study performed on human participants to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a medical intervention such as a drug or peptide.
- DOI
- Digital Object Identifier. A unique alphanumeric string assigned to a published document that provides a persistent link to its location on the internet.
- Double-Blind Study
- A clinical trial design where neither the participants nor the researchers know who is receiving the treatment or placebo, reducing bias.
- Half-Life
- The time it takes for the concentration of a substance in the body to be reduced by half. Determines dosing frequency.
- In Vitro
- Experiments performed outside a living organism, typically in test tubes or petri dishes with isolated cells or tissues.
- In Vivo
- Experiments performed within a living organism, such as animal models or human clinical trials.
- Lyophilization
- Also called freeze-drying. A process that removes water from a peptide solution to create a stable powder for long-term storage.
- Meta-Analysis
- A statistical method that combines results from multiple studies to arrive at a more robust conclusion about the effect of a treatment.
- Peptide
- A short chain of amino acids (typically 2–50) linked by peptide bonds. Smaller than proteins, peptides often act as signaling molecules in the body.
- Pharmacokinetics
- The study of how a drug or peptide is absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted by the body over time.
- Placebo
- An inactive treatment (such as a saline injection) used as a control in clinical trials to compare against the actual drug being tested.
- PMID
- PubMed Identifier. A unique number assigned to each article indexed in the PubMed database, used to reference specific studies.
- Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
- A study design where participants are randomly assigned to either a treatment group or a control group. Considered the gold standard for clinical evidence.
- Receptor
- A protein on or within a cell that binds to a specific molecule (like a peptide), triggering a cellular response.
- Reconstitution
- The process of adding a solvent (usually bacteriostatic water) to a lyophilized peptide powder to create an injectable solution.
- Subcutaneous Injection
- An injection administered into the fatty tissue layer between the skin and muscle. The most common route of administration for research peptides.
- Systematic Review
- A comprehensive summary of all available research on a specific question, using a rigorous and reproducible methodology to identify and evaluate relevant studies.