How to Reconstitute MOTS-C
MOTS-C is a mitochondrial-derived peptide — a 16-amino-acid signaling molecule encoded in mitochondrial DNA that regulates metabolic homeostasis through the AMPK pathway. It arrives as a lyophilized powder and needs to be reconstituted before use.
The process is the same as any other peptide, but MOTS-C has a unique consideration: the doses are relatively large (5-10mg) compared to peptides like BPC-157 or semaglutide, which means your dilution choice matters more for injection volume.
What You Need
Before you start, gather everything:
- MOTS-C lyophilized vial (typically 5mg or 10mg)
- Bacteriostatic water (BAC water) — not sterile water, not saline
- Insulin syringes — 1mL (100 unit), 29-31 gauge
- Alcohol swabs — for cleaning vial tops
- A clean, flat workspace
Why bacteriostatic water? It contains 0.9% benzyl alcohol that prevents bacteria from growing in your solution. Regular sterile water has no preservative, so the vial must be used within 24 hours. If you're pulling multiple doses from a single 10mg vial, BAC water is essential — it gives you up to 28 days refrigerated.
Step-by-Step Reconstitution
Step 1: Clean Everything
Wipe the tops of both vials (MOTS-C and BAC water) with alcohol swabs. Let them air dry for 10 seconds. This prevents contamination — skip it at your own risk.
Step 2: Draw Your Bacteriostatic Water
Using a fresh insulin syringe, draw your desired amount of BAC water. The amount you add determines your concentration (see the dilution charts below).
For MOTS-C, the ideal water amount depends on your vial size and dose. Because doses are large (5-10mg), you want to balance between accurate measurement and reasonable injection volume. For a 10mg vial dosed at 5mg, 2mL of water gives you 5,000mcg/mL — meaning each 5mg dose is 100 units (1mL), and you get exactly 2 doses per vial.
Step 3: Add Water to the Peptide Vial
Insert the needle into the MOTS-C vial at an angle, aiming at the glass wall — not directly at the powder. Let the water trickle down the side of the vial gently.
Do not squirt water directly onto the powder. Peptides are fragile. Aggressive mixing can damage the molecular structure and reduce potency.
Step 4: Let It Dissolve
Gently swirl the vial with a slow rotating motion. Do not shake it. The powder should dissolve within 1-2 minutes into a perfectly clear, colorless solution.
If particles remain after 5 minutes of gentle swirling, the peptide may be degraded. A properly manufactured MOTS-C dissolves easily.
Step 5: Store Correctly
Refrigerate immediately at 36-46F (2-8C). The reconstituted solution is stable for up to 28 days with bacteriostatic water.
Dilution Charts
Why 2mL for 10mg vials? It gives you exactly 2 doses at 5mg each, with each dose being a full 1mL (100 units) — easy to draw, no math mistakes. For 5mg vials used as single-dose, 1mL keeps the injection volume manageable.
The Math (So You Can Do It Yourself)
Here's the formula for any vial size and any amount of water:
Concentration = Peptide Amount (mcg) / Water Added (mL)
Then to find your injection volume:
Units to inject = Desired Dose (mcg) / Concentration (mcg/mL) x 100
Example: 10,000mcg vial + 2mL water = 5,000mcg/mL. For a 5mg (5,000mcg) dose: 5,000 / 5,000 x 100 = 100 units (1mL).
For a smaller dose: 10,000mcg vial + 2mL = 5,000mcg/mL. For a 10mg dose: 10,000 / 5,000 x 100 = 200 units — that exceeds a single syringe. Either use less water (1mL gives you 100 units for 10mg) or split into two injection sites.
Don't want to do math? Use our Reconstitution Calculator — plug in your vial size, water amount, and desired dose, and it does the rest.
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