Over the last decade, the word “peptides” has gone from a scientific term to a trending topic across fitness, wellness, and longevity communities. Yet even as interest has exploded, many people in Colombia still wonder: what exactly are peptides, how do they work, and why are they so widely discussed in research?
This article from Poly Biotech provides a complete, research-based overview of what peptides are, how they’re studied, and why Colombian laboratories, clinics, and professionals are increasingly using them in scientific exploration.
1. What Exactly Are Peptides?
Peptides are short chains of amino acids - the same building blocks that form proteins. They are found naturally throughout the body, where they act as tiny messengers that regulate communication between cells. Because of their small size (usually under 50 amino acids), peptides can bind to specific receptors and trigger targeted biological responses.
In a research context, this makes peptides valuable for studying precise cellular functions: growth, recovery, metabolism, and many other biological processes.
2. The Difference Between Peptides and Proteins
The key difference lies in complexity. Proteins are long, folded chains of hundreds of amino acids with complex structures - think collagen or insulin. Peptides, by contrast, are shorter and easier to synthesize in the lab, giving researchers full control over their sequence and purity.
This flexibility is why peptides are often called “molecular tools.” They help researchers simulate natural biological signals and analyze specific mechanisms in controlled environments.
3. How Peptides Are Made
Modern peptide production relies on a process called solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS). It allows laboratories to build amino acid sequences with single-residue accuracy. After synthesis, the peptide is purified - typically using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) - and verified via mass spectrometry (MS) for molecular accuracy.
4. Types of Peptides Commonly Studied in Colombia
Research peptides can be grouped by their biological focus or experimental category. Here are some examples from Poly Biotech’s catalog:
- Growth Hormone & Endocrine Research – Peptides such as CJC-1295, Ipamorelin, and Sermorelin are studied for their influence on growth hormone signaling and endocrine pathways.
- Metabolic Research – Compounds like Tirzepatide, AOD-9604, and 5-Amino-1MQ are examined for their roles in metabolic balance, glucose regulation, and energy utilization.
- Recovery & Regeneration – Peptides such as BPC-157 and TB-500 are used in tissue-repair and angiogenesis studies.
- Neuropeptides & Cognitive Research – Peptides like Selank, Epitalon, and Cerebroprotein Hydrolysate are explored for their effects on brain metabolism and neurotransmitter regulation.
- Mitochondrial & Cellular Energy – Compounds such as MOTS-c and SS-31 support studies in mitochondrial health and oxidative stress response.
5. Why Peptides Are So Popular in Modern Science
The global rise in peptide research is driven by one thing: specificity. Peptides act on well-defined molecular targets, allowing scientists to map cellular pathways with incredible precision.
For this reason, peptides are used in:
- Endocrine and hormone signaling research
- Cellular repair and regenerative biology
- Metabolic and mitochondrial function modeling
- Neurobiology and cognitive pathway studies
Peptides bridge the gap between biochemistry and biotechnology, giving Colombian researchers access to molecular tools once reserved for large pharmaceutical laboratories..
