Peptides are short polymers of amino acids that can bind targets, modulate signaling, or serve as modular building blocks in therapeutics and diagnostics.

Size

~2–50 amino acids (∼0.2–5 kDa)

Structure

Linear or cyclic; natural or synthetic

Stability

Tunable via cyclization and non-natural residues

Production

Solid-phase synthesis or recombinant

​
Key Features

Cyclization and incorporation of D-amino acids or peptidomimetics can dramatically improve stability and potency.
  • High specificity with small footprint
  • Rapid synthesis and optimization cycles
  • Amenable to conjugation (labels, payloads, PEG)
Unmodified linear peptides often have short serum half-life due to proteolysis and renal clearance.

​
Applications

Peptide libraries enable high-throughput discovery (e.g., phage display, mRNA display) of potent binders with tailored properties.