Melanotan 1 15mg — Vial Spec, Reconstitution Math & COA

Overview of Melanotan 1 (Afamelanotide) 15mg Vial Specifications

Melanotan 1 (also known as Afamelanotide or [Ac-Nle4, D-Phe7]-α-MSH) is a synthetic tridecapeptide analog of natural alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH). In laboratory settings, a 15mg vial configuration supplies 15,000 micrograms of high-purity lyophilized peptide cake. This specific mass option is engineered for high-throughput research laboratories, multi-plate biochemical assays, and long-term in vivo rodent studies requiring consistent lot-matched dosing across extended experimental timelines.

Structurally, Melanotan 1 incorporates two amino acid substitutions relative to endogenous α-MSH: Norleucine at position 4 and D-phenylalanine at position 7. These chemical modifications increase metabolic resistance against enzymatic degradation by serum proteases while enhancing binding affinity at the melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R). When ordering a 15mg vial format, principal investigators ensure sufficient working material to execute complete experimental blocks without introducing inter-batch variance.

PX1 Research Catalog Availability & Standard Vial Offerings

At PX1 Research, primary inventory standards focus on highly stable, standardized unit sizes to maximize product stability and prevent unnecessary freeze-thaw cycles during storage. While institutional investigators frequently calculate protocol parameters for high-mass formats such as 15mg, PX1 Research maintains standard production runs in 10mg packaging, available directly via our catalog as Melanotan 1 10mg.

If your experimental parameters require specialized 15mg fills or bulk institutional ordering for longitudinal studies, custom compounding and custom fill sizes can be arranged through our institutional sales team. Researchers seeking our full range of synthetic signaling peptides and melanocortin research compounds can inspect our comprehensive inventory via /all-peptides or submit high-volume requests through our wholesale lab portal.

Reconstitution Mathematics for 15mg Research Vials

Reconstituting a 15mg (15,000 µg) lyophilized vial requires precise volumetric calculations to achieve accurate target working concentrations. Depending on automated microplate delivery systems or animal administration volumes, laboratories typically utilize 1.0 mL, 2.0 mL, or 3.0 mL of sterile diluent (such as Bacteriostatic Water containing 0.9% Benzyl Alcohol or sterile 0.9% NaCl solution).

When 1.0 mL of solvent is added to a 15mg vial, the resulting final concentration is 15.0 mg/mL (15.0 µg/µL). If reconstituted with 2.0 mL of diluent, the working concentration yields 7.5 mg/mL (7.5 µg/µL). Reconstitution with 3.0 mL yields a stock solution of 5.0 mg/mL (5.0 µg/µL). To rapidly calculate custom volumetric aliquots for specialized laboratory equipment, scientists can utilize our interactive reconstitution calculator.

To perform reconstitution, direct the diluent stream gently against the glass wall of the vial rather than shooting it directly onto the lyophilized cake. Allow the vial to sit undisturbed at ambient temperature for 5 to 10 minutes, followed by gentle side-to-side rotation. Vortexing or vigorous mechanical agitation must be strictly avoided, as shear forces can disrupt peptide tertiary structure or cause surface aggregation.

Molecular Mechanism & Target Melanocortin Receptor Selectivity

Melanotan 1 operates primarily as a potent agonist at the melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R), a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) predominantly expressed on the cell surface of dermal melanocytes. In vitro assays demonstrate that binding of Melanotan 1 to MC1R stimulates adenylate cyclase activity, driving an intracellular surge in cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). This secondary messenger cascade upregulates transcription factors such as Microphthalmia-associated Transcription Factor (MITF), subsequently stimulating the expression of tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TYRP1), and dopachrome tautomerase.

Preclinical cell culture models and rodent studies indicate that this enzymatic activation accelerates eumelanin synthesis relative to baseline pheomelanin production. Unlike native α-MSH, which undergoes rapid clearance by plasma peptidases, the structural modification of D-Phe7 confers extended biological activity in physiological media, allowing researchers to evaluate continuous melanogenic signals in cutaneous signaling research. Further details on receptor kinetics can be explored in our specialized melanocortin research library.

Comparative Analysis: Melanotan 1 vs. Melanotan II and PT-141

In melanocortin receptor research, Melanotan 1 is routinely evaluated alongside related synthetic analogs to decipher subtype-specific signaling pathways. A comparison of primary target profiles highlights the functional differences between these laboratory reagents:

While Melanotan 1 exhibits high selectivity for MC1R over other receptor subtypes, related structural analogs like Melanotan 2 act as non-selective cyclic agonists across MC1R, MC3R, MC4R, and MC5R. Consequently, Melanotan 2 produces broader physiological responses in preclinical animal models, including central nervous system effects mediated by MC4R activation. Similarly, PT-141 (Bremelanotide), a metabolite derivative of Melanotan II, displays selective binding toward central MC3R and MC4R pathways governing neurovascular signals without significant peripheral MC1R activity. Researchers comparing receptor binding affinity profiles across these synthetic analogs can review comparative data within our melanocortin agonists guide.

Aliquot Planning, Liquid Stability, and Storage Protocols

Lyophilized Melanotan 1 powder maintains exceptional structural stability when stored at -20°C or -80°C in a desiccated, light-protected environment. Under these conditions, unopened vials retain chemical integrity for up to 24 months. However, once reconstituted into liquid solution, the peptide becomes subject to slow hydrolytic and oxidative degradation pathways.

For 15mg mass vials, standard protocol dictates immediate division of the reconstituted stock into single-use micro-aliquots using sterile polypropylene microcentrifuge tubes. Freezing aliquots at -80°C prevents degradation while eliminating repeated freeze-thaw cycles, which degrade secondary peptide structure. Working aliquots stored at 2°C to 8°C in bacteriostatic water should be consumed within 14 to 28 days of initial reconstitution.

Analytical Quality Control: HPLC Purity, MS Identification & COA Verification

Every production lot of Melanotan 1 provided by PX1 Research undergoes strict analytical verification prior to final fill and packaging. Quality control parameters require rigorous testing to confirm exact molecular identity and chemical purity standards:

Purity is quantified using Reverse-Phase High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (RP-HPLC), ensuring a minimum threshold of 99% pure peptide peptide peak area. Molecular weight verification is established via Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry (ESI-MS), matching the theoretical monoisotopic mass of 1646.85 Da. Furthermore, bacterial endotoxin content is measured using Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) testing to ensure levels remain below strictly controlled thresholds (<0.01 EU/µg). Researchers can instantly access lot-matched documentation via our dedicated /coa lookup tool.

Laboratory Workflow Optimization: Choosing Between 10mg and 15mg Vials

Selecting the correct vial size depends on the experimental scale, liquid handling automation, and project timeline. While a 15mg vial offers volumetric efficiency for large-scale assays, smaller vial sizes like the standard Melanotan 1 10mg vial offer operational advantages for low-throughput screening.

For small exploratory trials involving fewer microplates or short-duration animal cohorts, 10mg vials minimize the total reconstitution volume held in liquid storage, reducing the risk of solution oxidation or thermal degradation. Conversely, laboratories executing high-throughput screening assays with robotic pipetting systems often prefer larger vial masses to maintain uniform stock concentration across hundreds of assay wells. Evaluating experimental throughput ensures optimized peptide utilization and reduces total research expenditure.