This is a working overview of Lyophilisation, written for readers who want more than a one-paragraph summary but less than a textbook.
Reviewed 2026-03-27. Anything still debated is marked as such rather than presented as settled.
The compound was developed in the 1980s at the Institute of Molecular Genetics in Moscow, where it emerged from research on short ACTH fragments and their effects on the central nervous system. Russian pharmaceutical listings describe it as a nootropic and neuroprotective agent, most often formulated as nasal drops. It is not a marketed medicine in the United States or the European Union, and no pharmacopoeial monograph covers it. Consequently, most published clinical experience with the substance originates from a small number of research centres, mainly in Russia and neighbouring countries.
Pharmacological accounts link semax to melanocortin signalling and to modulation of neurotrophic factor expression, particularly brain-derived neurotrophic factor and nerve growth factor. Much of this evidence comes from rodent studies using intranasal delivery, a route chosen because it allows peptides to reach the central nervous system with limited systemic exposure. Whether the same mechanisms operate in humans at comparable magnitude remains an open question. The precise receptor or receptors responsible for the reported behavioural and neuroprotective effects have not been conclusively identified.
Identity and purity of semax are established with reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to ultraviolet detection, usually at 214 nanometres. Mass spectrometry, most often electrospray ionisation in positive mode, confirms the molecular mass and reveals truncated sequences. Amino acid analysis and peptide mapping after enzymatic digestion provide additional structural confirmation. Laboratories typically report purity as the percentage area of the main peak, a figure that does not capture isomeric or oxidised variants unless the method resolves them.
The peptide is prone to several degradation pathways. Oxidation of the methionine residue produces a sulfoxide that elutes close to the parent peak in many chromatographic systems. Hydrolysis of peptide bonds and deamidation of susceptible residues in related sequences also reduce purity over time. Lyophilised material kept dry at minus twenty degrees Celsius and shielded from light is the most stable form commonly described in laboratory practice.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Molecular formula | C37H51N9O10S | Free acid form of the heptapeptide; depends on terminal groups |
| Molecular mass | About 813.9 g/mol | Average mass used for mass spectrometry confirmation |
| Appearance | White to off-white solid | Supplied as a lyophilised powder; hygroscopic |
| Solubility class | Freely soluble in aqueous media | Water, saline, and phosphate buffers; limited organic solubility |
| Typical storage temperature | -20 degrees Celsius | Long term and dry; short working periods may use 2 to 8 degrees Celsius |
Semax is a synthetic heptapeptide developed in the Soviet Union during the 1980s by researchers at the Institute of Molecular Genetics in Moscow. It was designed as a truncated analog of adrenocorticotropic hormone, retaining only the fragment spanning residues four through ten. Investigators sought a peptide that would preserve the cognitive effects associated with ACTH while eliminating the hormonal stimulation of the adrenal cortex. The compound entered clinical use in Russia during the following decade.
Russian regulatory authorities approved the peptide for nasal administration, and it remains listed in the national pharmacopoeia under several trade names. Documented indications include acute ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attacks, traumatic brain injury, and certain ophthalmological and neurological conditions. Physicians also prescribe it for cognitive complaints in older patients, although the evidence base for that use is thinner. Outside Russia and a few neighboring states, the substance is not an approved medicine and is sold instead as a research chemical.
Later generations of the molecule include an N-acetylated form and an amidated form, both marketed online alongside the parent peptide. These variants differ in terminal chemistry and stability, and they are frequently discussed in the same breath even though they have not been compared in controlled trials. Supply outside formal healthcare systems comes largely from laboratories that synthesize peptides to order. Purity and identity of these materials vary widely, and no single body oversees the international trade.
The mechanisms attributed to semax are inferred from animal and cell studies rather than traced to one confirmed target. The most frequently cited pathway involves increased expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and nerve growth factor in hippocampal and cortical tissue. Some work points to engagement of melanocortin receptors, particularly MC4, which the parent ACTH fragment can activate. Effects on dopaminergic and serotonergic signalling have also been reported. No single account explains all observed results, and the relative weight of each pathway remains unsettled.
Published studies examine a fairly narrow set of endpoints. Rodent experiments commonly measure maze learning, infarct volume after induced ischemia, and tissue levels of neurotrophic factors. Clinical reports from Russian centres describe attention, memory and recovery scores in patients after stroke or transient ischemic attack. Most of those human studies are small and few have been repeated by independent groups. Outcome measures differ between studies, which limits direct comparison.
当时的短肽研究普遍关注能否穿越血脑屏障、在低剂量下产生中枢效应，Semax 属于这一路线。鼻内给药是其主要使用方式，俄语文献报道的适应症涵盖缺血性卒中、短暂性脑缺血发作、认知功能减退以及视神经病变。这些研究大多发表在当地期刊上，样本规模与终点设置同西方试验惯例存在差异，国际同行对其临床证据的强度看法不一。
各国监管态度分化明显。俄罗斯按处方药管理，部分东欧国家留有使用记录；欧盟与美国未批准其作为药物上市，市面流通品通常标注为研究用化学品。身份差异意味着标示含量、纯度与无菌性缺少统一核查。体育领域还牵涉反兴奋剂名录，跨境携带则受目的地药品法规约束。
== Disease == High Lp(a) in blood correlates with coronary heart disease (CHD), cardiovascular disease (CVD), atherosclerosis, thrombosis, and stroke. However, the association between Lp(a) levels and stroke is not as strong as that between Lp(a) and cardiovascular disease. Lp(a) concentrations may be affected by disease states (for example, kidney failure or autoinflammatory conditions), but are only slightly affected by diet, exercise, and other environmental factors. Most commonly prescribed lipid-reducing drugs have little or no effect on Lp(a) concentration. Results using statin medications have been mixed in most trials, although a meta-analysis published in 2012 suggests that atorvastatin may be of benefit. Niacin (Vitamin B3) has been shown to reduce the levels of Lp(a) significantly in individuals with high levels of low-molecular weight Lp(a). High Lp(a) correlates with early atherosclerosis independently of other cardiac risk factors, including LDL. In patients with advanced cardiovascular disease, Lp(a) indicates a coagulant risk of plaque thrombosis. Apo(a) contains domains very similar to plasminogen (PLG). Lp(a) accumulates in the vessel wall and inhibits the binding of PLG to the cell surface, reducing plasmin generation, which increases clotting. This inhibition of PLG by Lp(a) also promotes the proliferation of smooth muscle cells. These unique features of Lp(a) suggest that Lp(a) causes generation of clots and atherosclerosis.
The stringed crowns and the trays used in manual sorting are shown in the figure. The destination tray is moved step by step in the direction of the arrow. The crowns are transferred in groups from the slots of the source tray into the all opposite slots of the destination tray. The transfers are directed by computer and the products are identified by the positions of the crowns occupied on the final strings. A fast automatic sorter machine had also been described. The sorter is outlined in the figure. It has two sets of aligned tubes. The lower ones are step by step moving in the direction showed by the arrow and the coin-like units are dropped from the upper source tubes into the lower destination ones. The tubes may serve as reaction vessels too. A software had also been developed that can direct sorting if not a full combinatorial library is synthesized only a set of its components are prepared that are picked out from the full library.
An initial success was achieved when medicinal chemists set out in search of the ideal SSRI with the chemical synthesis of zimelidine (figure 1) from the antihistamine drug brompheniramine, which exhibited selective inhibition of 5-HT re-uptake with minimal inhibition of norepinephrine (NE) re-uptake. Most importantly, zimelidine did not come with the adverse effect profile as the TCAs and therefore it became the template for the second generation SSRIs. Zimelidine was the first SSRI to be marketed, but several cases of Guillain–Barré syndrome were associated with the use of the drug which led to withdrawal from the market in 1983. Subsequently, several non-tricyclic SSRIs were discovered and marketed. Fluoxetine, which was FDA approved in 1987, is usually thought to be the first SSRI to be marketed. The work which eventually led to the discovery of fluoxetine began at Eli Lilly and Company in 1970 as a collaboration between Bryan Molloy and Ray Fuller. It was known at that time that the antihistamine diphenhydramine showed some antidepressant-like properties. 3-Phenoxy-3-phenylpropylamine, a compound structurally similar to diphenhydramine, was taken as a starting point. Molloy and fellow Eli Lilly chemist Klaus Schmiegel synthesized a series of dozens of its derivatives. Hoping to find a derivative inhibiting only serotonin reuptake, another Eli Lilly scientist, David T. Wong, proposed to retest the series for the in vitro reuptake of serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine, using a technique developed by neuroscientist Solomon Snyder.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Agouti signalling peptide adopts an inhibitor cystine knot motif. Along with the homologous Agouti-related peptide, these are the only known mammalian proteins to adopt this fold. The peptide consists of 131 amino acids.
== History == Prosenjit Choudhury was, at the time, a culinary expert at Sayaji Hotels. While working at the hotel, he introduced the concept of live grills similar to Korean barbecue in order to enhance the buffet experience to avoid cold appetisers. This idea proved to be popular and with the support of Sajid Dhanani, the managing director of Sayaji Hotels, Choudhury established the first outlet at Pali Hill in Mumbai, India in 2006. The brand had expanded to cities such as New Delhi and Bengaluru by 2008. After Sajid Dhanani's death in 2012, his brother Kayum Dhanani took over the business. The company opened its 100th outlet in 2018. The company offered its IPO in 2021. The IPO raised ₹453 crore (US$52 million), with ₹180 crore as fresh capital for expansion and debt repayment, and ₹273 crore as an offer for sale by existing investors. The stock was reported to perform poorly, due to factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on the restaurant market, weakening sales and increased competition. An Indian Express article highlighted how the buffet business was stalling due to new customer trends, affecting the growth of Barbeque Nation. As of 2022, the company owns an 86.57% stake in Red Apple Kitchen Consultancy Private Limited, which manages an Italian restaurant chain, Toscano.
Manchester's Revolutionary 2D Material at The University of Manchester Graphene at The Periodic Table of Videos (University of Nottingham) Graphene: Patent surge reveals global race 'Engineering Controls for Nano-scale Graphene Platelets During Manufacturing and Handling Processes' (PDF) Band structure of graphene (PDF).
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Second Cold War Observatory official website "Welcome to Cold War Two: historian Niall Ferguson on geopolitics in 2026" on YouTube Media related to Cold War II at Wikimedia Commons Quotations related to Second Cold War at Wikiquote The dictionary definition of Cold War II at Wiktionary Learning materials related to Cold War II at Wikiversity
=== Filming === On 4 April 2019, a photoshoot featuring Rajinikanth was held at a studio in Chennai. The stills which were leaked onto the internet and showed the actor in a cop avatar. Principal photography for the film began on 10 April in Mumbai. Images featuring Rajinikanth, Nivetha Thomas and Yogi Babu were also leaked onto the internet. On 3 May 2019, filming was suspended following reports of friction with college students at a campus that was being used as a location, and it later resumed. The film's first schedule was completed on 15 May. The film's second schedule resumed on 29 May and ended on 30 June. Suniel Shetty joined the film's second schedule. On 5 June 2019, a video from the filming location was unofficially posted on the internet despite high security on the sets. The filmmakers reported a similar incident during the filming on the last week of June 2019. The team shifted location from Mumbai to Delhi, citing heavy rains. It was reported filming would finish in late August 2019. After completing the film's second schedule, the makers took a 10-day-long break and filming resumed on 10 July 2019. On 25 July, Murugadoss shared images from the film showing Rajinikanth holding a sword and walking through a cloud of dust in a policeman's uniform; another image showed him looking happier and wearing a light blue suit. The final schedule of the film took place on 19 August 2019 in Jaipur, where two action sequences were filmed. On 11 October 2019, the makers announced they had completed filming.
The subject was said to have “agrypnia excitata”, which consists of severe total insomnia of long duration associated with decreased vigilance, mental confusion, hallucinations, motor agitation, and complex motor behavior mimicking dreams, and autonomic activation. CNS and autonomic symptoms were caused by impaired corticolimbic control of the subcortical structures regulating the sleep-wake and autonomic functions.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
It is described as a synthetic analogue of the ACTH(4–10) fragment, a short segment of adrenocorticotropic hormone. Its sequence differs from that fragment and includes two proline residues, which influence stability and behaviour in solution.
It appears in Russian pharmaceutical listings as a nasal formulation, but it is not an authorised medicine in the United States or the European Union. Outside those markets it is normally encountered as a research chemical rather than a prescription product.
Laboratory and animal work points to melanocortin signalling and changes in neurotrophic factor levels, especially brain-derived neurotrophic factor. The exact receptor targets and the degree to which these findings transfer to humans are still unresolved.
Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography is the standard method, with detection in the ultraviolet range. Peak area percentage yields a purity figure for the main component. Mass spectrometry is normally run alongside to confirm molecular identity.