Melanotan I 10mg
A selective MC1R agonist and alpha-MSH derivative investigated for non-UV cutaneous melanogenesis and photoprotective properties.
Mechanism
Selectively stimulates melanocortin-1 receptors on dermal melanocytes, elevating intracellular cAMP cascades to accelerate the synthesis of photoprotective eumelanin independent of UV radiation.
Dosing
Standard experimental literature outlines a conservative initiation dose of 0.5 mg administered once daily during the initial loading phase.
Reconstitution
Introducing 2.0 mL of bacteriostatic water into a 10 mg lyophilized vial produces a working solution with a final concentration of 5 mg/mL.
Storage
Store the unmixed powder protected from light at or below 4 degrees Celsius, and keep the reconstituted peptide refrigerated between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius for up to 28 days.
Mix & measure Melanotan I 10mg
Pre-filled with this protocol's recommended BAC water and documented starting dose — edit any field to run your own numbers.
Mix & measure Melanotan I 10mg
Vial strength → BAC water → target dose
Total doses in vial: 20.0
U-100 syringe: 100 units = 1 mL
Reconstitution math only — not dosing advice. U-100 syringe: 100 units = 1 mL. Advanced calculator →
Dosing Chart
| Phase / Day(s) | Dose & Frequency | Volume (U-100 units / mL) |
|---|---|---|
| Loading (conservative) | 0.5 mg once daily | 10 units (0.10 mL) |
| Loading (upper reference) | 1 mg once daily | 20 units (0.20 mL) |
| Maintenance | 1 mg 1-2x weekly | 20 units (0.20 mL) |
Reconstitution Steps
- 1
Sterilize the rubber stoppers of both the lyophilized peptide vial and the bacteriostatic water container with fresh alcohol swabs.
- 2
Draw 2.0 mL of bacteriostatic water into a sterile mixing syringe.
- 3
Insert the needle at a slight angle and direct the stream gently down the glass wall of the vial, preventing direct impact on the lyophilized cake.
- 4
Swirl the vial in a smooth circular motion until all solute particles have dissolved, avoiding vigorous shaking.
- 5
Date the reconstituted solution and store it immediately in a temperature-controlled refrigerator between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius.
Supplies Needed
Peptide Vial
Supplies 10 mg of lyophilized Melanotan I powder for reconstitution
Insulin Syringes (U-100)
Enables precise micro-volume withdrawal and research administration
Bacteriostatic Water
Serves as the sterile, preserved diluent to reconstitute the peptide solution
Alcohol Swabs
Decontaminates vial injection ports and biological preparation areas
Why researchers study it
Sunless tanning and UV-independent eumelanin synthesis
Melanocortin-1 receptor selective binding affinity models
Photoprotection kinetics in erythropoietic protoporphyria models
Comparative pharmacodynamics against non-selective melanocortin agonists
These describe what is being studied, not proven benefits, approved uses, or promised results.
Overview
Melanotan I (afamelanotide) is a synthetic 13-amino-acid peptide designed as an analogue of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH). In preclinical and clinical contexts, the compound is utilized to investigate melanogenesis pathways due to its targeted activity at the melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R). Unlike non-selective melanocortin analogs, it preferentially activates cutaneous pigment production mechanisms with minimized cross-reactivity at central receptor subtypes. While the active chemical entity has gained clinical regulatory clearance as a long-acting implantable formulation for conditions such as erythropoietic protoporphyria, research involving reconstituted lyophilized vials represents an experimental protocol. Laboratory investigations examine its efficacy in accelerating eumelanin synthesis without reliance on direct ultraviolet exposure, serving as a primary model for non-ionizing photoprotection studies. Investigational models frequently contrast Melanotan I against its cyclic congener Melanotan II. Because of its restricted receptor affinity profile, research endpoints generally focus specifically on epidermal pigmentation, baseline phototolerance thresholds, and dermatological cellular signaling rather than central neuroendocrine or metabolic parameters.
References
- 1.Kim & Garnock-Jones, Am J Clin Dermatol, 2016 — Afamelanotide: A Review in Erythropoietic Protoporphyria
- 2.Spichty et al., J Pharm Biomed Anal, 2012 — A bioassay for neutralizing antibodies against the alpha-MSH analog afamelanotide
- 3.Minder & Schneider-Yin, Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol, 2014 — Afamelanotide (CUV1647) in dermal phototoxicity of erythropoietic protoporphyria
- 4.Balwani, Mol Genet Metab, 2019 — Erythropoietic Protoporphyria and X-Linked Protoporphyria: pathophysiology, genetics, clinical manifestations, and management
Supplies Needed
Suggested supplier
Research use only. Listing a supplier is not an endorsement of any protocol on this site, and nothing sold there is approved for human use.