Selank Peptide Dose: Research-Reported Figures
Selank (sequence: Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro) is a synthetic heptapeptide analogue of tuftsin developed by the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Preclinical work and limited human pilot trials have investigated its anxiolytic, nootropic, and immunomodulatory properties. Outside Russia it is classified as a research compound. This page summarizes dose figures reported in the scientific literature as a research reference only.
Mechanism and Pharmacokinetic Context
Selank modulates the GABAergic system, influencing GABA-A receptor activity through pathways distinct from benzodiazepine binding sites. In animal models it also affects serotonin turnover, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression, and enkephalinase activity. Its parent compound tuftsin is an endogenous tetrapeptide with immunoregulatory roles, which is why selank research has explored both cognitive and immune endpoints.
Plasma half-life is estimated at approximately 7 minutes due to rapid proteolytic degradation. This short half-life shapes both the administration routes used in research and the dosing intervals applied in preclinical models. Understanding the kinetics is important context for interpreting any dose figure.
Research-Reported Dose Figures
The figures below are drawn from peer-reviewed animal studies and published Russian clinical pilot data. They are research-reported numbers, not dosing advice. Figures vary across studies and should be read in conjunction with the original methodology.
| Study Context | Route | Reported Dose | Frequency | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rodent acute anxiety model | Subcutaneous | 100 to 300 mcg/kg | Once or twice daily | 5 to 10 days |
| Rodent cognitive/nootropic model | Intranasal | 25 to 100 mcg/kg | Once daily | 7 to 14 days |
| Human pilot (generalized anxiety) | Intranasal drops | 400 mcg per administration (~2 drops per nostril) | 2 to 3 times daily | 10-day course |
| Human pilot (stress/PTSD-adjacent) | Intranasal drops | 400 to 500 mcg per administration | Twice daily | 10 to 14 days |
Intranasal vs Subcutaneous Routes in Research
Most human pilot work has used the intranasal route. Nasal mucosa delivery bypasses immediate hepatic metabolism and permits rapid CNS penetration, partially compensating for selank's short plasma half-life. Each nostril receives one or two drops of prepared solution, applied two to three times per day in the published anxiety studies.
Subcutaneous administration is standard in rodent models where weight-based dosing is required for consistent inter-animal comparison. Researchers using the subcutaneous route in animal experiments typically apply the dose once or twice daily. Split dosing is common in longer protocols because the short half-life otherwise creates large concentration troughs between single daily doses.
The reconstitution process follows the same standard steps as other lyophilized peptides: dissolve in bacteriostatic water, calculate volume per dose from the resulting concentration, and store refrigerated. The peptide reconstitution guide covers bacteriostatic water ratios, mixing technique, and storage conditions in detail. For volume calculations across multiple compounds, the peptide dosage calculator handles concentration conversions efficiently.
Cycle Length and Research Design Considerations
Published animal studies typically run selank administration for 5 to 14 days in acute anxiety models and up to 28 days in chronic models assessing cognitive endpoints. The Russian clinical pilot data for generalized anxiety used discrete 10-day courses. No long-term human safety data exists in a robust peer-reviewed form, which is why selank remains a research-only compound in most countries.
Selank is sometimes examined alongside growth-hormone-releasing peptides or other neuropeptides in multi-compound research designs. Researchers running such designs should review each compound's individual protocol before combining them. The ipamorelin protocol, the CJC-1295 protocol, and the general research protocols overview provide structural reference for common pairings.
Sourcing and Purity Considerations
Accurate dosing depends heavily on the purity of the research material. A 5-mg vial at 90% purity delivers a meaningfully different active dose than one at 98% purity. Independent HPLC verification from a third-party laboratory is the standard quality benchmark for research-grade peptides. The verified supplier list notes which sources provide certificates of analysis with lot-specific HPLC data, which is especially relevant for a compound like selank where dose precision affects research outcomes.
For subcutaneous work, accurate syringe calibration matters at the low volumes typical in selank animal experiments. The injection sites guide covers subcutaneous technique and common anatomical locations used in research contexts.
Summary Points
- Selank is a short heptapeptide with a plasma half-life of roughly 7 minutes.
- Animal studies report subcutaneous doses of 100 to 300 mcg/kg; human pilot work used fixed intranasal doses around 400 mcg per administration.
- The intranasal route predominates in published human research due to rapid CNS absorption relative to the short half-life.
- Study durations have ranged from 5 days (acute models) to 28 days (chronic cognitive protocols).
- No robust long-term human safety profile exists, reinforcing the research-only classification.