Guide
Selank: A Research Peptide Overview
Selank is a synthetic heptapeptide used as a model neuropeptide in cell-based laboratory research. This overview covers what it is, the pathways researchers study in vitro, how it is handled as a reference material, and why batch-level purity matters. It is written strictly for laboratory research context.
What Selank is
Selank is a synthetic heptapeptide with the sequence Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro. It is based on the endogenous tetrapeptide tuftsin, extended at the C-terminus with a Pro-Gly-Pro sequence that slows its enzymatic breakdown. It carries CAS number 129954-34-3, the molecular formula C33H57N11O9, and a molecular weight of 751.89 g/mol.
As a research reference material it is supplied as a lyophilized powder and characterised by HPLC for purity and mass spectrometry for identity.
Why it is studied
In the laboratory, Selank is used as a model neuropeptide in receptor-signaling assays and in cell-culture studies of neurotrophin gene expression, including BDNF-related pathways.
It also appears in peptidase-stability and enzymatic-degradation research, where the Pro-Gly-Pro extension is the feature of interest, and it serves as an analytical reference standard. These are in vitro research applications only, and no medical claims are made here.
Handling and storage
Lyophilized peptides are generally kept cold, dry, and out of light to preserve stability. Selank is stored long-term at -20°C (-4°F), protected from moisture and direct light, with original labeling retained so the batch stays traceable.
This overview does not cover preparation or use of any kind. That falls outside laboratory research reference use, and we do not provide that guidance.
Why purity and identity matter
A seven-residue peptide can be made with a deletion or a substitution that leaves a clean-looking chromatogram while the sequence is subtly wrong. Purity by HPLC and identity by mass spectrometry answer two different questions, and a serious report carries both.
This is why a per-batch Certificate of Analysis, one tied to the exact lot you receive, is more useful than a generic brand-level document.
How to verify a Selank batch
Before relying on any batch, confirm three things: purity (an HPLC percentage), identity (a mass-spectrometry confirmation), and a traceable lot number with a test date. If the supplier lets you look up that batch’s report, you can match the documentation to the vial in hand.
See our guide on how to read a peptide COA for a field-by-field walkthrough.
Regulatory status: common questions
Is Selank FDA approved? No. Selank is not an approved drug in the United States. Its nomination to the FDA 503A compounding list was withdrawn in September 2024, so it has no pending pathway toward compounding-pharmacy status either. It is supplied strictly as a laboratory research reference material.
Is Selank legal in the US? Selank is not a scheduled substance under the Controlled Substances Act. It is lawfully supplied as a reference material for laboratory research, and for no other purpose; nothing on this site should be read as a claim otherwise.
What about its status outside the US? Selank was developed in Russia and is a registered pharmaceutical there. Foreign registration has no bearing on US status, where it remains unapproved.
Why a lyophilized vial and not a spray? Reference material is quantified by mass and stability-characterised in lyophilized form, which is what a per-batch certificate can actually describe. Pre-mixed and spray formats fall outside laboratory reference use, so we do not offer them.