Everything below concerns freeze-thaw. We keep the language plain, cite what the science says, and separate well-supported claims from open questions.
Last reviewed on 2026-03-02. Where a claim depends on a specific study, the study is described rather than over-claimed.
Lyophilized selank is normally supplied as a dry powder and is considered stable for extended periods when kept cold and dry. Moisture uptake is the main practical threat, because absorbed water promotes both hydrolysis and aggregation in the solid state. Vials are usually warmed to room temperature before opening so that condensation does not form on the powder. Supplier documentation commonly specifies -20 °C for routine storage, with -80 °C used for material intended to be archived for years.
Once dissolved, the peptide is markedly less stable than the dry powder. Aqueous solutions are subject to backbone hydrolysis and to microbial growth when they are handled without sterile technique. Buffered solutions near neutral pH are common for short-term laboratory work, while acidic conditions are sometimes used to improve solubility. Analytical laboratories generally prepare working solutions fresh rather than storing them, and a residual water film left in a reopened vial can seed degradation even when the container appears dry.
Animal studies have examined behaviour in tests of anxiety, memory retention and stress response, and several report changes in neurotrophic or neurotransmitter-related markers. The human evidence base is much smaller, consisting mainly of short trials conducted in Russia with limited reporting in English-language journals. Sample sizes are modest and outcome measures vary between studies, so the findings are best described as preliminary. Independent replication under modern trial standards has not been widely reported.
Outside its country of origin the compound is generally handled as a research chemical rather than an approved medicine. No regulatory approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration or the European Medicines Agency has been granted for human use. Identity and purity are normally checked by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, with mass spectrometry used to confirm the molecular mass. Lyophilised material is stored cold and desiccated, and repeated freeze-thaw cycles are avoided.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Typical purity specification | 95 percent or higher by RP-HPLC | Area percentage of the main peak |
| Identity confirmation | Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry | Observed mass compared with the theoretical value near 751.9 Da |
| Recommended dry storage | -20 °C, desiccated | -80 °C for multi-year archival material |
| Solution handling | Prepare fresh; avoid long storage | Sterile filtration reduces microbial load |
| Common synonyms | TKPRPGP; TP-7 | Sequence code and laboratory designation used interchangeably |
Selank is a synthetic heptapeptide developed in Russia during the 1990s. Researchers at the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences designed it as a stabilized analog of tuftsin, a naturally occurring immunomodulatory tetrapeptide. The compound has been studied primarily for its reported anxiolytic and nootropic effects. It remains largely unknown in Western pharmacology and is not approved as a medicine by major regulators such as the FDA or the EMA.
The primary structure of Selank is Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro, corresponding to the molecular formula C33H57N11O9 and a monoisotopic mass of roughly 751.9 daltons. The N-terminal threonine and the arginine residue in the fourth position are shared with tuftsin, which carries the sequence Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg. The three additional residues at the C-terminus, Pro-Gly-Pro, extend the chain and are associated with greater resistance to enzymatic degradation. This extension also separates Selank from the shorter parent peptide.
Naming conventions place Selank in the same research family as Semax, another Russian-developed peptide investigated for cognitive effects. The two compounds share a lineage but differ in sequence and in the biological systems proposed as their targets. Semax descends from ACTH fragments, whereas Selank descends from tuftsin. Publications sometimes identify Selank by its full peptide sequence or by laboratory codes rather than one uniform trade name. Because replication outside Russia is limited, reports on its properties are best read alongside the study design and the purity of the material tested.
Selank is a synthetic heptapeptide developed in Russia. Its sequence is Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro, a seven-residue chain built around the natural tetrapeptide tuftsin. Researchers at the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences first described the compound in the mid-1990s. The design combined the tuftsin core with an added Pro-Gly-Pro tail, a modification intended to extend the molecule's stability in biological fluids. Published work on the peptide has appeared mainly in Russian-language journals.
Reported activity for Selank centers on anxiolytic and nootropic effects. Russian clinical reports describe use in anxiety and in cognitive or attention-related complaints. Most of this evidence comes from studies conducted by the same research groups that developed the peptide. Independent replication in other countries remains limited, and no major Western regulatory agency has approved the compound for any indication. The gap between local reports and external verification is a recurring point in discussions of the peptide.
Tuftsin, the parent structure, is a naturally occurring immunomodulatory tetrapeptide released from the Fc region of immunoglobulin G by spleen enzymes. Selank extends this four-residue sequence with three additional amino acids. The stated rationale is that the added tail slows enzymatic breakdown and may influence receptor interactions. How the full heptapeptide behaves at the molecular level is not firmly established, and proposed mechanisms often involve indirect modulation of neurotransmitter or immune signaling rather than a single defined target.
== Philanthropy == McGregor is involved in charity work, including UNICEF UK since 2004 and GO Campaign. During the Long Way Round journey in 2004, McGregor and his travelling companions saw some of UNICEF's work in Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia, and during the Long Way Down trip in 2007, he and Charley Boorman did some work for UNICEF in Africa. McGregor hosted the annual Hollywood gala for the GO Campaign in 2009 and 2010. He has worked with the Children's Hospice Association Scotland, as featured in Long Way Down. In 2012, he travelled with UNICEF immunisation workers to remote parts of India, Nepal and the Republic of Congo for a BBC2 documentary entitled Ewan McGregor: Cold Chain Mission. In June 2015, McGregor read Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Match Girl" for the children's fairy tales app GivingTales in aid of UNICEF, together with other prominent figures such as Sir Roger Moore, Stephen Fry, Dame Joan Collins, Joanna Lumley, and Sir Michael Caine.
Crucially, investigations confirmed that Kambolina had absolutely no involvement with the "Blue Whale Challenge" or online "death groups", as they did not exist at the time of her passing. Instead, her story and imagery were retroactively co-opted and weaponised by predatory online administrators to orchestrate a widespread moral panic, fabricate the mythos of a centralized "suicide game", and draw susceptible teenagers into harmful online communities.
Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, where the newborn's liver is not able to properly process the bilirubin causing jaundice Hepatocellular disease Viral infections (hepatitis A, B, and C) Chronic alcohol use Autoimmune disorders Genetic syndromes: Gilbert's syndrome – a genetic disorder of bilirubin metabolism that can result in mild jaundice, found in about 5% of the population Rotor syndrome: non-itching jaundice, with rise of bilirubin in the patient's serum, mainly of the conjugated type Dubin–Johnson syndrome Crigler–Najjar syndrome Pharmaceutical drugs (especially antipsychotic, some sex hormones, and a wide range of other drugs) Sulfonamides are contraindicated in infants less than 2 months old (exception when used with pyrimethamine in treating toxoplasmosis) as they increase unconjugated bilirubin leading to kernicterus. Drugs such as protease inhibitors like Indinavir can also cause disorders of bilirubin metabolism by competitively inhibiting the UGT1A1 enzyme. Post-hepatic causes are associated with elevated levels of conjugated bilirubin. These include:
== Clinical studies == PF-04455242 reached phase 1 clinical trials for bipolar depression prior to the discontinuation of its development in 2010. Its development was discontinued upon unfavorable toxicological findings in animals that had been exposed to the drug for 3 months. Along with JDTic, which was also discontinued due to toxicity findings early in clinical trials, PF-04455242 was one of the first KOR antagonists to be developed for potential treatment of psychiatric disorders. It was in phase 1 trials by 2009 and was first described in the scientific literature by 2010.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Since mass media can affect the public's perception of mental illnesses, journalists are encouraged to utilize The Associated Press Stylebook when reporting on mental illnesses. These guidelines help mitigate the use of slang and discriminatory language. Similarly, The World Health Organization also provides guidelines for news outlets when discussing suicide to prevent cases of the Werther Effect. However, even with strict guidelines and models, news coverage of mental illnesses can create significant controversy, both for the news outlet and the journalists themselves.
=== Total bilirubin === Total bilirubin = direct bilirubin + indirect bilirubin Elevation of both alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and bilirubin is more indicative of serious liver injury than is elevation in ALT alone, as postulated in Hy's law that elucidates the relation between the lab test results and drug-induced liver injury
Vasculitis a disorder where blood vessels are destroyed by inflammation. Can be life-threatening if it affects the right blood vessels. Galactorrhoea (lactation that is not associated with pregnancy or breast feeding) Delayed micturition (that is, delays in urination from when a conscious effort to urinate is made) Hyperthermia (elevation of body temperature; its seriousness depends on the extent of the hyperthermia) Syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) this is basically when the body's level of the hormone, antidiuretic hormone, which regulates the conservation of water and the restriction of blood vessels, is elevated. This is potentially fatal as it can cause electrolyte abnormalities including hyponatraemia (low blood sodium), hypokalaemia (low blood potassium) and hypocalcaemia (low blood calcium) which can be life-threatening. Agranulocytosis a drop in white blood cell counts. The white blood cells are the cells of the immune system that fight off foreign invaders. Hence agranulocytosis leaves an individual open to life-threatening infections. Leukopaenia the same as agranulocytosis but less severe. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (a potentially fatal reaction to antidopaminergic agents, most often antipsychotics. It is characterised by hyperthermia, diarrhoea, tachycardia, mental status changes [e.g. confusion], rigidity, extrapyramidal side effects) Tardive dyskinesia a most often irreversible neurologic reaction to antidopaminergic treatment, characterised by involuntary movements of facial muscles, tongue, lips, and other muscles.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Buffalo General Medical Center-Located on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, Buffalo General Medical Center offers a wide spectrum of clinical inpatient and outpatient treatment programs. John R. Oishei Children's Hospital-This regional center for specialized pediatric and women's health care has achieved national recognition and is ranked among the top 20 pediatric hospitals in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital- this 200-bed community hospital supports residency training programs in anesthesiology, emergency medicine, general surgery, urology, obstetrics and gynecology, and family practice. DeGraff Memorial Hospital-A 70-bed community hospital primarily serving the needs of patients in towns north of Buffalo. Erie County Medical Center-This 550-bed medical center serves as a regional center for trauma, burns, rehabilitation and cardiac care. Veterans Affairs Western New York Healthcare System-The Buffalo VA Medical Center provides inpatient and outpatient programs. It is the main referral center for cardiac surgery, cardiology and comprehensive cancer care for Western New York and northern Pennsylvania. Sisters of Charity Hospital- Buffalo's first hospital and a Designated Stroke Center, Sisters of Charity Hospital serves patients in its inpatient and outpatient facilities. Mercy Hospital of Buffalo-Mercy Hospital is a Center of Excellence for Stroke and Cardiac Care. It recently revamped emergency department is a model for emergency health-care treatment.
Most of the structures that make up animals, plants and microbes are made from four basic classes of molecules: amino acids, carbohydrates, nucleic acid and lipids (often called fats). As these molecules are vital for life, metabolic reactions either focus on making these molecules during the construction of cells and tissues, or on breaking them down and using them to obtain energy, by their digestion. These biochemicals can be joined to make polymers such as DNA and proteins, essential macromolecules of life.
Shooting the elephant to take its tusks: this method is of concern here. Taking tusks from an elephant which has died of natural causes. Taking tusks from an elephant which has had to be put down for another reason, for example, severe arthritis, or if its last molar teeth are worn out and can no longer chew its food. Among working elephants which use their tusks to carry logs, there is an optimal tusk length. In former times, tusks were often cut back to this length (and often the shortened tusks' ends were bound in copper). This periodically freed pieces of ivory for the carving trade.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Sealed, desiccated storage at -20 °C or colder is the standard recommendation for research-grade material. Vials should reach room temperature before they are opened, which limits condensation. Repeated temperature cycling is discouraged.
A reported purity value reflects the share of the main peak in one chromatographic run and says nothing about identity. Confirming that the expected sequence is present requires a separate measurement such as mass spectrometry. Purity and identity are distinct questions.
A mass spectrum reports the molecular masses present in a sample and shows whether they match the value expected for selank, near 751.9 Da. It also flags common artifacts such as truncation or adduct formation. It does not establish correct stereochemistry or complete sequence order on its own.
Most published work uses intranasal application, either as drops or as a nasal spray. Injection routes appear in a smaller set of animal experiments. Oral use is uncommon in the literature because peptide breakdown and poor absorption limit this route.