nasal drops comes up often in conversation and rarely with the context attached. Here we lay out the basics in order, then work through the practical considerations.
Last reviewed on 2025-08-21. Where a claim depends on a specific study, the study is described rather than over-claimed.
Published research has focused mainly on neurological and cognitive endpoints in animal models, with proposed mechanisms involving brain-derived neurotrophic factor and related signalling pathways. A substantial share of the human data originates from a limited number of research groups, and independent replication in other countries remains sparse. Regulatory status reflects that distribution: the peptide is registered as a medicine in Russia and appears in some neighbouring markets, while elsewhere it is handled as a research chemical without approved therapeutic labelling. Questions about dose-response relationships, long-term effects, and comparability across studies are still open.
Lyophilised powder is normally kept at -20 °C in a desiccated container, with some suppliers recommending -80 °C for long-term archival storage. Repeated freeze-thaw cycles are the most common cause of avoidable loss, so aliquoting before freezing reduces variability between working sessions. Dissolved peptide is far less stable than the dry solid and is usually prepared fresh or held briefly at 4 °C. Aqueous solutions support both hydrolysis of the backbone and oxidation of the N-terminal methionine, and these two routes dominate degradation under ordinary laboratory conditions.
Identity and purity are confirmed with reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, typically monitored at 214 nanometres where the peptide bond absorbs. Mass spectrometry, either electrospray or MALDI-TOF, verifies molecular mass against the theoretical value and detects truncation or adduct formation. Amino acid analysis and peptide mapping provide additional confirmation when required. The most frequently reported impurities are deletion sequences from incomplete coupling, methionine sulfoxide from oxidation, and dimeric species formed through non-covalent aggregation. Impurity profiles depend strongly on the synthesis and purification route chosen by the producer.
Regulatory status varies sharply by country. Semax is registered for medical use in Russia, where it appears in formularies as a nasal solution, and it also holds registration in a small number of neighbouring states. It has no approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration or the European Medicines Agency, and it is not a scheduled controlled substance in most jurisdictions. Elsewhere it circulates mainly as laboratory material, so purity documentation comes from suppliers rather than from a national pharmacopoeia.
Semax is a synthetic peptide created in the Soviet Union during the early 1980s by researchers working in Moscow. It was built from the short adrenocorticotropic hormone fragment known as ACTH(4-10), and the chain was then extended with three additional amino acids. The resulting molecule was named semax and entered clinical use in Russia in 1994. It is generally described as a nootropic and neuroprotective agent rather than as a hormone analogue.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Purity assay | RP-HPLC, UV 214 nm | Typical research grade 95 percent or higher |
| Mass confirmation | ESI-MS or MALDI-TOF | Compared with theoretical value |
| Main degradation route | Methionine oxidation | Sulfoxide formation in solution |
| Powder storage | -20 °C, desiccated | Amber vial, minimal headspace |
| Working solution | Sterile water or saline | Prepare fresh; avoid repeated thawing |
Solid material is normally kept at minus 20 degrees Celsius in a sealed, desiccated container. Reconstituted solutions are less stable and are usually divided into single-use aliquots before freezing. Repeated freeze-thaw cycles are avoided because they promote aggregation and loss of activity. Light exposure is minimized by using amber glassware or foil wrapping. Published stability data for this peptide are sparse, so recommended storage conditions rest mainly on general practice for short synthetic peptides rather than on dedicated study.
Identity and purity are commonly assessed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, with ultraviolet detection near 214 nanometers for the peptide backbone. Mass spectrometry, either electrospray or matrix-assisted laser desorption, confirms molecular mass and detects truncation or modification products. Amino acid analysis can verify composition. Because the sequence contains no strongly absorbing aromatic residue apart from phenylalanine, detection wavelengths are chosen carefully. Purity values above 95 percent are typical for research-grade material.
Quality documentation for research-grade peptide usually includes a certificate of analysis stating purity, identity, and residual counterion content. Batch-to-batch variation in purity and salt form is a recognized issue, and comparisons across suppliers require attention to the exact counterion, for example acetate versus trifluoroacetate. Sequence verification by tandem mass spectrometry provides stronger evidence than a single mass measurement. For any study reporting biological results, the analytical method and the measured purity should be stated explicitly. Independent verification of supplier claims is considered good practice.
Scientific literature on semax is unevenly distributed. A substantial share of published work originates from a small number of laboratories in Russia, while independent replication elsewhere is limited. Human data consist mostly of small trials with short follow-up, and several reported outcomes rely on subjective rating scales. Questions about how much intact peptide reaches the central nervous system after nasal administration, and how long it persists there, are still unresolved. The compound is best described as an active research subject rather than a settled pharmacological agent.
Semax is a synthetic heptapeptide with the sequence Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro. It was derived from the ACTH(4-10) fragment, a short segment of adrenocorticotropic hormone that lacks the hormonal activity associated with the full-length peptide. Researchers at the Institute of Molecular Genetics in Moscow developed the compound during the 1980s. It has been registered as a pharmaceutical product in Russia and several neighbouring countries, where it is supplied as a nasal solution, and it is also sold internationally as a research chemical.
The proposed mechanism centres on neurotrophic signalling rather than direct receptor activation. Semax is reported to increase expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and nerve growth factor in several brain regions, and to shift the balance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitter systems. Interaction with melanocortin receptors has been suggested because of the parent ACTH fragment. Many of these findings come from rodent studies, and the extent to which they translate to human physiology remains an open question.
== Production == Nitrogen gas is an industrial gas produced by the fractional distillation of liquid air, or by mechanical means using gaseous air (pressurised reverse osmosis membrane or pressure swing adsorption). Nitrogen gas generators using membranes or pressure swing adsorption (PSA) are typically more cost and energy efficient than bulk-delivered nitrogen. Commercial nitrogen is often a byproduct of air-processing for industrial concentration of oxygen for steelmaking and other purposes. When supplied compressed in cylinders it is often called OFN (oxygen-free nitrogen). Commercial-grade nitrogen already contains at most 20 ppm oxygen, and specially purified grades containing at most 2 ppm oxygen and 10 ppm argon are also available. In a chemical laboratory, it is prepared by treating an aqueous solution of ammonium chloride with sodium nitrite.
H3A (aq) + H2O (l) ⇌ H3O+ (aq) + H2A− (aq) Ka1 H2A− (aq) + H2O (l) ⇌ H3O+ (aq) + HA2− (aq) Ka2 HA2− (aq) + H2O (l) ⇌ H3O+ (aq) + A3− (aq) Ka3 An inorganic example of a triprotic acid is orthophosphoric acid (H3PO4), usually just called phosphoric acid. All three protons can be successively lost to yield H2PO−4, then HPO2−4, and finally PO3−4, the orthophosphate ion, usually just called phosphate. Even though the positions of the three protons on the original phosphoric acid molecule are equivalent, the successive Ka values differ since it is energetically less favorable to lose a proton if the conjugate base is more negatively charged. An organic example of a triprotic acid is citric acid, which can successively lose three protons to finally form the citrate ion. Although the subsequent loss of each hydrogen ion is less favorable, all of the conjugate bases are present in solution. The fractional concentration, α (alpha), for each species can be calculated. For example, a generic diprotic acid will generate 3 species in solution: H2A, HA−, and A2−. The fractional concentrations can be calculated as below when given either the pH (which can be converted to the [H+]) or the concentrations of the acid with all its conjugate bases:
Due to competition, the early 1980s recession, the early 1990s recession, and lost focus, the company's growth stalled in the 1980s and early 1990s. D’Arbeloff, the chairman of the company, died of cancer and the COO and CTO died in a helicopter crash while commuting between facilities. The anticipated synergies never materialized. In 1994, an investor group led by management purchased the company for $360 million. That year, the company introduced Symmetry HPLC columns. It had a renewed focus for growth under CEO Douglas A. Berthiaume. Pharmaceutical spending also increased after the failure of the Clinton health care plan of 1993. In November 1995, the company once again became a public company via an initial public offering. In 1996, in addition to acquiring TA Instruments, it introduced the Alliance HPLC system. The following year, Waters acquired Micromass for $176 million, entering the mass spectrometry market. In 2004, the company introduced the Acquity UPLC system, which brought greater speed, resolution, and sensitivity to chromatographic separations and was considered a breakthrough technology. In 2006, Waters acquired Vicam, provider of bio-separation and rapid detection products for improving food safety and quality. In January 2020, it acquired Andrew Alliance, a producer of software and robotics for laboratory automation, for $77.4 million. In September, Udit Batra was named President and Chief Executive Officer of the company. In May 2023, Waters acquired Wyatt Technology for $1.36 billion in cash.
The Albany facility is the company's main research and development site in the industry, and has recently partnered with Seattle-based technology company EnerG2 to produce carbon electrode material, in a 74,000-square-foot (6,900 m2) former distribution center of Oregon Freeze Dry by 2011 bringing a new green technology industry to Albany. Tec Laboratories has made Tecnu poison ivy cleanser and other topical medicines in Albany since 1977. Albany is also home to the Albany Research Center, which is part of National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). They employ a staff of 120. Albany Research Center was founded in 1943, the laboratory specializes in life cycle research starting with the formulation, characterization, and/or melting of most metals, alloys, and ceramics; casting and fabrication, prototype development; and the recycle and remediation of waste streams associated with these processes. The Heritage Mall, an enclosed shopping center, opened on November 2, 1988. The construction of a regional shopping center had been planned for a decade and included proposals to build a rival mall in Corvallis.
== Overview == IDPL focuses on the treatments for infections that include HIV, tuberculosis, and other serious infections. This facility provides therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) using high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography. IDPL has been in existence for two decades and has developed individualized drug regimens by monitoring a patient's blood plasma or serum for target drug concentrations and then interpreting these results and advising physicians how to adjust a drug's dosage to achieve an optimal outcome. This interdisciplinary method allows IDPL to assess each patient's ability to absorb, metabolize and excrete drugs, which then enables them to recommend customized drug dosages based upon these pharmacokinetic factors as well as the severity of the patient's infection. IDPL primarily focuses on tuberculosis, but they also develop drug regimens for cancer patients with fungal infections, and people with HIV. The Infectious Disease Pharmacokinetics Laboratory also serves as a national reference center for the determination of serum concentrations for the antimycobacterial, antifungal, and anti-HIV drugs, as well as linezolid.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
In September 1987, Galloway was asked by a journalist about his relationship to a woman during the 1986 War on Want conference on the Greek island of Mykonos. Galloway admitted having an extra-marital affair, saying:I travelled to, and spent time in, Greece with lots of people, many of whom were women, some of whom were known carnally to me. I actually had sexual intercourse with some of the people in Greece. And if the British public and BBC Scotland think that's of interest they are welcome to broadcast it. As a result, Galloway made front-page headlines in the tabloid press at the time. He and his first wife separated that year. In February 1988, the executive committee of his constituency Labour Party passed a vote of no confidence in him by 15 to 8. The constituency's general management committee voted 54-to-44 in favour of the motion a fortnight later on 22 February, although just three of the 25 members in the trade union section supported it. Galloway gained re-selection when challenged by Trish Godman (wife of fellow MP Norman Godman) in June 1989, but failed to get a majority of the electoral college on the first ballot. This was the worst result for any sitting Labour MP who was reselected, but Galloway gained 62% in total in the final vote. Galloway assured his party there would be a "summer of peace and reconciliation" in his acceptance speech, but this did not happen.
According to Will Freeman of the Council on Foreign Relations, Bukele has styled himself as the "second coming of Francisco Morazán", a Honduran politician who was president of the Federal Republic of Central America in the 1820s and 1830s. El Faro's Gabriel Labrador compared him to 18th-century military officer and Venezuela independence leader Simón Bolívar for wanting to form a "union of the [Central American] people".
In May 2006, Valve announced a trilogy of episodic games that would continue the story of Half-Life 2 (2004). Episode One was released in 2006, followed by Episode Two in 2007. Episode Three was initially announced for Christmas 2007 and was highly anticipated. Valve released little information in the following years, and in 2011 Wired described it as vaporware. Valve canceled Episode Three as they had become fatigued with Half-Life and struggled to identify new gameplay mechanics. They eventually abandoned episodic development, as they wanted to create more ambitious games. Additionally, as developing Half-Life 2 and the original Source game engine simultaneously had created problems, Valve delayed development of a new Half-Life until their new engine, Source 2, was complete. In 2017, the Half-Life writer, Marc Laidlaw, released a short story that journalists speculated was a summary of the Episode Three plot. In 2024, Valve released footage and concept art of Episode Three as part of a documentary about the making of Half-Life 2.
It was limited to solid samples; however, liquid sample recently can also be measured in TC/EA-IRMS system by adapting an autosampler for liquids. The drawback of TC/EA is the relatively big sample size (~ mg), which is smaller than offline combustion/reduction but larger than GC/pyrolysis. It cannot separate different compounds as GC/pyrolysis does and thus only the average for the whole sample can be provided, which is also a drawback for some research.
=== 1971 analysis === The St. Augustine carcass was largely forgotten until 1957, when Forrest Glenn Wood, a curator at the Marineland of Florida and a founding member of the International Society of Cryptozoology, became interested in the story after finding a yellowed newspaper clipping mentioning the creature. Entitled "The Facts About Florida," it read:
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
In what became known as "The Six Boers Case", Captains Robertson and Taylor, as well as Sgt. Maj. Morrison, were charged with committing the offense of murder while on active service. In relation to what was dubbed "The Van Buuren Incident", Maj. Lenahan was charged with, "When on active service by culpable neglect failing to make a report which it was his duty to make." In relation to "The Visser Incident", Lts. Morant, Handcock, Witton, and Picton were charged with "While on active service committing the offense of murder". In relation to what was incorrectly dubbed "The Eight Boers Case", Lieuts. Morant, Handcock, and Witton were charged with, "While on active service committing the offense of murder". In relation to the slaying of Heese, Lts. Morant and Handcock were charged with, "While on active service committing the offense of murder". No charges were filed for the three children who had been shot by the Bushveldt Carbineers near Fort Edward. In relation to what became known as "The Three Boers Case", Lts. Morant and Handcock were charged with, "While on active service committing the offense of murder". Following the indictments, Maj. R. Whigham and Col. James St. Clair ordered Bolton to appear for the prosecution, as he was less expensive than a barrister. Bolton vainly requested to be excused, writing, "My knowledge of law is insufficient for so intricate a matter." The first court martial opened on 16 January 1902, with Lieut.-Col. H.C. Denny presiding over a panel of six judges. Maj. J.F.
==== MeSH D12.125.142 – amino acids, essential ==== MeSH D12.125.142.087 – arginine MeSH D12.125.142.087.500 – omega-n-methylarginine MeSH D12.125.142.308 – histidine MeSH D12.125.142.383 – isoleucine MeSH D12.125.142.441 – leucine MeSH D12.125.142.497 – lysine MeSH D12.125.142.557 – methionine MeSH D12.125.142.666 – phenylalanine MeSH D12.125.142.815 – threonine MeSH D12.125.142.875 – tryptophan MeSH D12.125.142.930 – valine
== Interactions == Only in vitro interaction studies are available. In these, trifluridine used the concentrative nucleoside transporter 1 (CNT1) and equilibrative nucleoside transporters 1 (ENT1) and 2 (ENT2). Drugs that interact with these transporters could influence blood plasma concentrations of trifluridine. Being a thymidine phosphorylase inhibitor, trifluridine could also interact with substrates of this enzyme such as zidovudine. For the eye drops, trifluridine absorption is negligible, rendering interactions basically irrelevant.
=== Decay by two or more processes === Some quantities decay by two exponential-decay processes simultaneously. In this case, the actual half-life T½ can be related to the half-lives t1 and t2 that the quantity would have if each of the decay processes acted in isolation:
== History == Valproic acid was first synthesized in 1882 by Beverly S. Burton as an analogue of valeric acid, found naturally in valerian. Valproic acid is a carboxylic acid, a clear liquid at room temperature. For many decades, its only use was in laboratories as a "metabolically inert" solvent for organic compounds. In 1962, the French researcher Pierre Eymard serendipitously discovered the anticonvulsant properties of valproic acid while using it as a vehicle for a number of other compounds that were being screened for antiseizure activity. He found it prevented pentylenetetrazol-induced convulsions in laboratory rats. It was approved as an antiepileptic drug in 1967 in France and has become the most widely prescribed antiepileptic drug worldwide. Valproic acid has also been used for migraine prophylaxis and bipolar disorder.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Reversed-phase HPLC gives the main purity figure, most often with UV detection near 214 nanometres. Mass spectrometry then confirms the molecular mass. Together the two methods distinguish a correct sequence from a closely related impurity.
The main chemical risks are methionine oxidation and backbone hydrolysis in solution. Moisture and repeated temperature cycling accelerate both processes. Dry powder held cold and desiccated is considerably more stable than any reconstituted preparation.
It holds a medicine registration in Russia, where it has been used clinically for decades. In most other countries it is treated as a research chemical. That split explains the uneven distribution of clinical literature.
Registered medical products are most often 0.1% nasal drops. Research suppliers ship lyophilized powder, usually in milligram quantities, which is dissolved before use. The active peptide is the same in both cases; presentation and excipients differ.