How to Reconstitute SS-31: Mixing & Dosing Guide (2026)
SS-31 reconstitution guide: 2mL BAC water into a 5mg vial = 4 units per 10mg dose. Dilution charts, storage, and mistakes to avoid.
How to Reconstitute SS-31 (Elamipretide)
SS-31, also known as elamipretide, is a synthetic tetrapeptide (D-Arg-Dmt-Lys-Phe-NH2) that targets the inner mitochondrial membrane by binding to cardiolipin. It is being studied for mitochondrial dysfunction, age-related decline, heart failure, and kidney disease.
Like all lyophilized peptides, SS-31 ships as a dry powder that needs to be mixed with bacteriostatic water before use. The reconstitution process is the same as any other peptide. The main thing to know: SS-31 doses vary widely depending on the protocol, so choosing the right dilution matters for accurate measurement.
What You Need
Before you start, gather everything:
- SS-31 lyophilized vial (typically 5mg, 10mg, or 20mg)
- 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? The 0.9% benzyl alcohol prevents bacterial growth in your reconstituted solution, extending shelf life to 28 days refrigerated. Regular sterile water has no preservative and must be used within 24 hours.
Step-by-Step Reconstitution
Step 1: Clean Everything
Wipe the tops of both vials (SS-31 and BAC water) with alcohol swabs. Let them air dry for 10 seconds. Every puncture of an unswabbed stopper is a contamination risk.
Step 2: Draw Your Bacteriostatic Water
Using a fresh insulin syringe, draw your desired amount of BAC water. For most vial sizes, 2mL produces concentrations that are easy to work with.
Step 3: Add Water to the Peptide Vial
Insert the needle into the SS-31 vial at an angle, aiming at the glass wall. Let the water trickle down the side — not directly onto the powder. SS-31 is a small, stable peptide, but good technique applies universally.
Step 4: Let It Dissolve
Gently swirl the vial. SS-31 dissolves quickly due to its small size (just 4 amino acids). You should have a clear, colorless solution within 30-60 seconds. Do not shake.
Step 5: Store Correctly
Refrigerate immediately at 36-46 degrees F (2-8 degrees C). Reconstituted SS-31 is stable for up to 28 days with bacteriostatic water.
Dilution Charts
5mg Vial
| BAC Water Added | Concentration | 1mg Dose | 2.5mg Dose |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1mL | 5,000mcg/mL | 20 units (0.2mL) | 50 units (0.5mL) |
| 2mLRecommended | 2,500mcg/mL | 40 units (0.4mL) | 100 units (1mL) |
10mg Vial
| BAC Water Added | Concentration | 1mg Dose | 5mg Dose |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2mLRecommended | 5,000mcg/mL | 20 units (0.2mL) | 100 units (1mL) |
| 3mL | 3,333mcg/mL | 30 units (0.3mL) | 150 units (1.5mL) |
| 4mL | 2,500mcg/mL | 40 units (0.4mL) | 200 units (2mL) |
20mg Vial
| BAC Water Added | Concentration | 2.5mg Dose | 5mg Dose |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2mLRecommended | 10,000mcg/mL | 25 units (0.25mL) | 50 units (0.5mL) |
| 4mL | 5,000mcg/mL | 50 units (0.5mL) | 100 units (1mL) |
Dose note: SS-31 dosing in research ranges from 0.01 to 1 mg/kg. Common research doses fall in the 1-5mg/day range for subcutaneous administration. Choose your dilution based on your target dose.
The Math (So You Can Do It Yourself)
Here is 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: 5,000mcg vial + 2mL water = 2,500mcg/mL. For a 1,000mcg (1mg) dose: 1,000 / 2,500 x 100 = 40 units (0.4mL).
Don't want to do math? Use our Reconstitution Calculator.
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Common Mistakes
Shaking the Vial
Even though SS-31 is a small, relatively robust tetrapeptide, shaking is never good practice. It introduces air bubbles that can make accurate dose measurement harder and theoretically can cause surface denaturation. Swirl gently.
Using Too Little Water
Adding 0.5mL to a 5mg vial gives you 10,000mcg/mL. A 1mg dose would be just 10 units — workable but leaves little room for measurement error. With 2mL, that same dose is 40 units, which is much easier to draw accurately.
Leaving It at Room Temperature
Reconstituted SS-31 should stay refrigerated. Pull the vial out, draw your dose, put it back. Extended room temperature exposure degrades the peptide over time.
Reusing Needles
A dulled needle increases discomfort and contamination risk. Use a fresh syringe for every dose.
Freezing Reconstituted Peptide
Ice crystals can disrupt even small peptides in solution. Freeze only the lyophilized powder. Once mixed, refrigerate — never freeze.
How Many Doses Per Vial?
At common research doses:
5mg vial at 1mg/dose = 5 doses 5mg vial at 2mg/dose = 2-3 doses 10mg vial at 1mg/dose = 10 doses 10mg vial at 5mg/dose = 2 doses 20mg vial at 5mg/dose = 4 doses
At a daily protocol of 1mg, a 10mg vial lasts 10 days. At 5mg daily, a 20mg vial lasts 4 days — higher-dose protocols burn through vials quickly.
Storage Quick Reference
| State | Temperature | Shelf Life |
|---|---|---|
| Lyophilized (powder) | Room temp | 6-12 months |
| Lyophilized (powder) | Refrigerated | 2+ years |
| Lyophilized (powder) | Frozen (-20C) | 3+ years |
| Reconstituted (BAC water) | Refrigerated | Up to 28 days |
| Reconstituted (sterile water) | Refrigerated | Use within 24 hours |
Pro tip: SS-31 protocols can require higher daily doses than many peptides. Plan your vial inventory ahead of time. Keep extras frozen in lyophilized form and reconstitute only what you will use within a month.
Related Reading
-
SS-31 Dosing Guide — protocols, cycles, and administration
-
BPC-157 Reconstitution Guide — mixing guide for the classic healing peptide
-
TB-500 Reconstitution Guide — reconstitution for the tissue repair peptide
-
Epitalon Dosing Guide — another anti-aging peptide often discussed alongside SS-31
-
SS-31 Bloodwork Guide — what labs to track during an SS-31 protocol
-
Melanotan-2 Reconstitution Guide — mixing guide for a melanocortin peptide
-
BPC-157 Bloodwork Guide — biomarker tracking reference for healing protocols
References
- Szeto, H.H. (2014). First-in-class cardiolipin-protective compound as a therapeutic agent to restore mitochondrial bioenergetics. British Journal of Pharmacology, 171(8), 2029-2050.
- Birk, A.V., et al. (2013). The mitochondrial-targeted compound SS-31 re-energizes ischemic mitochondria by interacting with cardiolipin. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 24(8), 1250-1261.
- Campbell, M.D., et al. (2020). Mitochondrial protein interaction landscape of SS-31. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 117(26), 15363-15373. PMID: 32554501
- Zhao, W., et al. (2022). SS-31, a mitochondria-targeting peptide, ameliorates kidney disease. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 2022, 1295509. PMC9192202
- Chavez, J.D., et al. (2025). Elamipretide: A review of its structure, mechanism of action, and therapeutic potential. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 26(3), 944. PMC11816484
- USP General Chapter 797: Pharmaceutical Compounding — Sterile Preparations.
This guide is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. SS-31 (elamipretide) is a research compound not yet fully approved for general human use. Reconstituting and self-administering peptides carries inherent risks including infection, contamination, and dosing errors. Always use proper sterile technique. Consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting any peptide protocol. The Peptide Catalog is not responsible for any adverse effects resulting from the use or misuse of information presented here.