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LL-37

LL-37 is a natural peptide found in the body that helps fight germs and support healing. It acts as a natural defense by breaking down bacteria and viruses while also helping skin and tissues repair faster. Researchers study it for wound healing, infection resistance, and immune balance.

Description

• LL-37 is a naturally occurring human antimicrobial peptide derived from the cathelicidin precursor hCAP-18.
• Composed of 37 amino acids, it plays a key role in innate immunity and tissue repair.
• Exhibits broad antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal activity while regulating inflammation and wound healing.

How It Works

• Binds to microbial membranes, disrupting integrity and neutralizing pathogens.
• Acts as a signaling molecule that modulates immune cell recruitment and cytokine balance.
• Stimulates angiogenesis and fibroblast activity to accelerate wound closure and epithelial repair.

Documented Effects

• Demonstrated antimicrobial effects against bacteria, fungi, and viruses.
• Enhances wound healing in animal and in-vitro studies by promoting cell migration and blood vessel formation.
• Reduces inflammatory markers while improving local immune defense.
• May protect skin and mucosal tissues from infection and chronic inflammation.

Theoretical Effects

• Potential for topical or injectable use in chronic wounds, ulcers, and resistant infections.
• Explored for antiviral and immune-balancing activity in respiratory and skin models.
• Still under study; long-term systemic safety data are limited.

Pharmacokinetics

• Half-life: Roughly 20–30 minutes after subcutaneous administration.
• Time to peak concentration: Within 15–45 minutes post-injection.
• Steady-state: Not typically reached; short-acting due to peptide degradation.

Duration of Effects

• Local immune and antimicrobial effects last 4–6 hours.
• Wound-healing support and angiogenic responses may persist for several days.
• Systemic activity diminishes rapidly after discontinuation.

Reconstitution

• Use only bacteriostatic water to reconstitute the lyophilized powder.
• Example vial: 10 mg of LL-37
• Choose reconstitution volume based on dosing convenience:
  • 1 mL water → 10 mg/mL → 1 mg per 10 units
  • 2 mL water → 5 mg/mL → 500 mcg per 10 units
• Swirl gently to dissolve; do not shake.
• Refrigerate reconstituted solution (2–8 °C). Use within ~14 days for best stability.

Injectable Dosage Overview (Research Reference)

Typical Starting Dose

• Reported research range: 100–500 mcg subcutaneous (SC) daily.
• Begin at lower end (~100 mcg) to evaluate tolerance.

Common Research Range

• Typical: 200–1000 mcg SC daily or every other day, depending on target tissue.
• Topical applications: 0.01–0.1% peptide concentration in gels or creams for skin repair research.

Maximum Daily Dose

• Preclinical safety evaluations generally remain below 1 mg/day SC.
• Higher doses may increase local inflammation; no long-term systemic safety data.

Standard Cycle Length

• Short protocols: 2–3 weeks continuous use for wound or immune studies.
• Extended observation: up to 6 weeks depending on recovery rate and experimental goals.

Clinical Notes

• Administer subcutaneously or topically depending on study purpose.
• Stable for about 14 days when refrigerated (2–8°C). Protect from light and heat. Avoid freezing.
• Combining with growth factors (e.g., EGF, BPC-157) may amplify repair effects.
• Monitor for irritation; dilute for topical use if needed.

Safety Notes

• May cause mild redness or irritation at injection or topical sites.
• Systemic administration beyond controlled research is not approved.
• Ensure sterile technique and verified laboratory-grade source.
• Intended strictly for controlled research or analytical testing.