How Are Peptides Synthesised?
An overview of solid-phase and liquid-phase peptide synthesis methods used by suppliers and research labs.
Last updated: 20 April 2026
Solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS)
SPPS is the most common method for research peptide synthesis. Amino acids are added one at a time to a growing chain attached to a solid resin bead. Each cycle involves protecting and unprotecting chemical groups to enable selective bonding.
The process is highly automated in modern peptide synthesis. After all amino acids are added, the complete peptide is cleaved from the resin and purified.
Liquid-phase synthesis
Liquid-phase methods build peptides in solution rather than on a solid support. They are sometimes used for longer peptides or special applications where SPPS is impractical.
Recombinant expression
Some peptides are produced by engineering cells (bacteria, yeast, or mammalian cells) to express them as proteins that are then processed to the desired peptide sequence. This method is common for complex or very long peptide chains.
Purification and quality control
After synthesis, crude peptides are purified using chromatography techniques (usually HPLC). Purity is verified by mass spectrometry and HPLC analysis. A good supplier will retain and test every batch independently.
Cost and timelines
Synthesis cost scales with peptide length and complexity. Custom synthesis typically takes 1–3 weeks for research quantities. Scale-up to larger batches follows a different timeline and cost structure.