AICAR Analytical Testing for Research Materials

AICAR analytical testing is an important part of evaluating the identity, purity, consistency, and documentation of AICAR research material. For laboratories purchasing or evaluating AICAR, analytical data can provide considerably more information than a product label alone.

AICAR, also known as acadesine or AICA riboside, is a small-molecule purine nucleoside analog rather than a conventional peptide. Its commonly reported chemical formula is C₉H₁₄N₄O₅, with a molecular weight of approximately 258.23 g/mol and CAS number 2627-69-2.

For research applications, analytical testing may include HPLC, LC-MS or mass spectrometry, NMR, water-content analysis, residual-solvent testing, elemental analysis, and other quality-control procedures, depending on the laboratory and specification.

The most useful approach is to evaluate the complete analytical record rather than relying on a single purity number.

What Is AICAR Analytical Testing?

AICAR analytical testing refers to laboratory procedures used to characterize and evaluate an AICAR material.

Depending on the laboratory’s quality-control program, testing can address several different questions:

Is the material chemically consistent with AICAR?
Does the chromatographic profile support the reported purity?
Does the measured mass support the expected molecular identity?
Does the material match the stated molecular formula?
Are water and residual solvents within specification?
Are elemental impurities controlled?
Is the batch traceable to a specific certificate of analysis?
Does the analytical documentation correspond to the actual lot being evaluated?

These questions are different, which is why a comprehensive analytical package can contain multiple testing techniques.

For example, HPLC can provide chromatographic purity information, while LC-MS can provide mass-based identity information. NMR or FTIR may provide additional orthogonal confirmation.

A current AICAR certificate published by Lyze Labs, for example, reports RP-HPLC purity, ESI-MS identity, Karl Fischer water analysis, GC-FID residual-solvent testing, ICP-MS elemental testing, microbial limits, and FTIR identity confirmation for a specific batch.

AICAR HPLC Testing

What Does HPLC Testing Measure?

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is one of the most commonly reported analytical methods for evaluating AICAR purity.

In an HPLC analysis, a sample is separated through a chromatographic system. The resulting chromatogram displays peaks corresponding to compounds or components detected under the selected analytical conditions.

For AICAR research material, an HPLC report may provide:

Retention time
Main compound peak
Related peaks
Area percentage
Chromatographic purity
Analytical wavelength
Column information
Mobile phase
Flow rate
Injection information

AICAR products from several established research suppliers report HPLC-based purity specifications. Sigma-Aldrich, for example, lists AICAR with an assay specification of ≥98% by HPLC, while Tocris/Bio-Techne lists ≥99% HPLC purity for its AICAR product.

However, a published specification should not be confused with the result for a particular production lot.

Why Batch-Specific HPLC Results Matter

A certificate of analysis should ideally identify the specific batch or lot that was tested.

For example, one current AICAR COA reports 99.62% RP-HPLC purity for source batch LZ-AIC-260826. The certificate explicitly states that the analytical results apply to that particular source batch rather than representing a universal result for every AICAR product.

This distinction is important when comparing research materials.

A useful quality-control record should therefore connect:

Product → Batch/Lot → Analytical Method → Test Result → Specification → Status

AICAR LC-MS and Mass Spectrometry Testing

How Does LC-MS Help Verify AICAR?

Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, commonly abbreviated LC-MS, combines chromatographic separation with mass-based detection.

For AICAR, the expected molecular weight is approximately 258.23 g/mol.

Mass spectrometry can provide complementary information by detecting ions associated with the compound’s molecular mass.

For example, an AICAR certificate may report an expected protonated ion and compare it with the observed mass-to-charge ratio.

A current batch-specific AICAR COA reports:

Molecular weight: 258.23 g/mol
Formula: C₉H₁₄N₄O₅
Identity method: ESI-MS
Expected [M+H]⁺: approximately 259.10
Observed value for that batch: 259.13

The result was reported as passing that certificate’s stated acceptance criterion.

This illustrates an important analytical concept:

Molecular weight and mass-spectrometry m/z are related but are not necessarily the same numerical value.

The neutral molecular mass describes the molecule itself, while mass spectrometry commonly measures an ion’s mass-to-charge ratio.

AICAR Molecular Weight and Analytical Identity

AICAR is commonly identified using:

Chemical name: AICAR / Acadesine / AICA riboside
CAS: 2627-69-2
Formula: C₉H₁₄N₄O₅
Molecular weight: 258.23 g/mol

These specifications are reported by multiple research and analytical suppliers.

When reviewing analytical documentation, the molecular formula is particularly useful because it provides the basis for calculating theoretical mass and evaluating mass-spectrometry results.

The identity section of a COA should therefore be reviewed alongside the product name, CAS number, formula, molecular weight, and lot number.

AICAR Purity Testing

What Does AICAR Purity Mean?

AICAR purity describes the proportion of the analyzed material attributed to the target compound according to the specified analytical method.

HPLC purity is frequently expressed as a percentage.

For example, a laboratory may report:

HPLC Purity: 99.62%

This does not automatically mean that every analytical characteristic of the material is 99.62%.

Purity by HPLC, active-content assay, water content, residual solvents, and elemental impurities are separate measurements.

A current AICAR COA demonstrates this distinction by reporting HPLC purity separately from water content, residual solvents, elemental impurities, and other analytical parameters.

Why This Distinction Matters

A strong AICAR quality assessment should not rely exclusively on a single percentage.

Instead, laboratories can examine:

Chromatographic purity
Identity
Molecular mass
Water content
Residual solvents
Related substances
Elemental impurities
Physical appearance
Batch traceability
Supporting analytical documentation

AICAR COA Verification

What Should an AICAR COA Contain?

A Certificate of Analysis (COA) is one of the most useful documents when evaluating research material.

A well-documented AICAR COA may include:

Product name
Catalog number
Batch or lot number
CAS number
Molecular formula
Molecular weight
Manufacturing date
Testing date
Expiration or retest date
HPLC purity
Identity testing
Mass-spectrometry result
Water content
Residual-solvent analysis
Elemental impurity testing
Appearance
Specification
Actual result
Pass/fail status
Analytical method

For example, a current batch-level AICAR certificate identifies its certificate number, source batch, molecular formula, molecular weight, HPLC purity, MS identity, water content, residual solvents, heavy metals, related substances, and microbial limits.

Match the COA to the Lot

One of the most important quality-control steps is confirming that the certificate belongs to the material being evaluated.

Check:

Vial label → Lot number → COA lot number

If these do not match, the certificate should not automatically be assumed to represent the material in hand.

AICAR NMR Testing

Why Use NMR as an Orthogonal Method?

Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, or NMR, can provide structural information using a different analytical principle from HPLC.

HPLC separates compounds chromatographically.

Mass spectrometry evaluates mass-to-charge characteristics.

NMR examines characteristic nuclear environments within the molecule.

Using multiple analytical methods can therefore provide orthogonal evidence.

Some AICAR certificates report NMR results as consistent with the expected structure. For example, a current Selleck certificate for AICAR batch S180210 reports 99.94% HPLC purity and NMR consistency with the structure.

For research laboratories, orthogonal testing can be particularly useful when identity confirmation is important.

AICAR Water Content Testing

Water content can affect the measured composition and handling characteristics of a chemical material.

Karl Fischer titration is one established analytical method used to quantify water.

A current AICAR batch certificate from Lyze Labs reports Karl Fischer water analysis and gives a batch-specific result of 1.05% against its stated specification.

The important point is that water content is a separate analytical parameter.

A material can have a high HPLC purity result while still requiring independent evaluation of moisture or other quality attributes.

AICAR Residual Solvent Testing

Residual solvents are another potential quality-control consideration.

Depending on the manufacturing process and specification, laboratories may use gas chromatography methods to evaluate residual solvents.

One current AICAR COA reports GC-FID residual-solvent testing and states that the batch conformed to its specified limits.

For laboratories comparing suppliers, it can be useful to determine:

Whether residual solvents were tested
Which analytical method was used
Which solvents were evaluated
What specification was applied
Whether the result was reported as numerical data or simply as conforming

AICAR Elemental and Heavy-Metal Testing

Elemental impurities may be evaluated using techniques such as inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).

ICP-MS is capable of detecting elements at very low concentrations.

A current AICAR certificate reports ICP-MS testing for heavy metals and elemental impurities, with the batch result reported against its stated specifications.

Again, these results are batch-specific.

A supplier should not be assumed to have identical elemental-impurity results across every production lot unless the relevant documentation supports that conclusion.

AICAR Analytical Testing: Understanding a Complete QC Package

A comprehensive analytical package can be easier to understand when each test is assigned a specific purpose.

Test	Primary Purpose
HPLC	Chromatographic purity
LC-MS / ESI-MS	Mass-based identity
NMR	Structural confirmation
FTIR	Molecular fingerprint / identity
Karl Fischer	Water content
GC-FID	Residual solvent analysis
ICP-MS	Elemental impurity analysis
Microbial testing	Microbial quality assessment
Appearance	Physical inspection
COA review	Documentation and traceability

Not every AICAR research material requires every test listed above. The appropriate analytical panel depends on the intended research application, specification, laboratory quality system, and applicable requirements.

AICAR Batch Testing and Lot Traceability

Batch testing is essential because analytical results belong to the material that was actually tested.

AICAR products may be offered in different quantities or configurations, but the analytical documentation should identify the relevant production lot.

A current AICAR certificate from Lyze Labs demonstrates this approach by connecting a source batch to a certificate number and finished-vial traceability.

For Peptides Grey House research material, a useful quality-information framework can therefore emphasize:

Lot-specific COA + HPLC + identity testing + molecular data + traceability

This provides researchers with a clearer basis for evaluating material documentation.

AICAR Analytical Testing for 50mg Research Material

AICAR is commonly available in smaller research configurations, including 50mg formats. Sigma-Aldrich and Santa Cruz Biotechnology both list 50mg AICAR configurations.

When evaluating an AICAR 50mg product, the quantity itself does not establish analytical quality.

Instead, review:

Exact lot number
COA availability
HPLC result
Identity method
Molecular formula
Molecular weight
Mass-spectrometry information
Storage conditions
Testing date
Laboratory or analytical provider
Specification and actual result

This is a more informative approach than evaluating a product solely by its stated vial size.

How to Evaluate AICAR Analytical Quality

Before selecting AICAR research material, researchers can use a simple documentation checklist.

1. Confirm the chemical identity

Look for:

AICAR / Acadesine / AICA riboside

2. Confirm the CAS number

2627-69-2

3. Confirm molecular data

C₉H₁₄N₄O₅
258.23 g/mol

4. Review HPLC data

Determine whether the reported result is:

Lot-specific
Method-specific
Clearly defined as HPLC purity or assay

5. Review identity testing

Look for LC-MS, ESI-MS, NMR, FTIR, or another appropriate identity method.

6. Review the COA

Make sure the certificate corresponds to the lot being purchased or evaluated.

7. Review additional QC data

Where relevant, check water, residual solvents, elemental impurities, microbial testing, and related substances.

8. Review storage information

AICAR suppliers commonly recommend controlled storage conditions. For example, Sigma-Aldrich lists −20°C storage for its AICAR powder, while individual suppliers may specify different conditions based on their formulation and stability data.

Always follow the conditions documented for the specific material and COA.

Why AICAR Analytical Testing Matters for Research

Research reproducibility depends on knowing what material entered an experiment.

If two research laboratories use materials with different purity, identity, water content, or impurity profiles, differences in analytical behavior can complicate interpretation.

A documented analytical profile can help laboratories:

Compare research batches
Maintain material traceability
Investigate unexpected experimental results
Standardize reagent selection
Document experimental materials
Support internal quality-control procedures
Evaluate supplier documentation

Analytical testing therefore serves a broader purpose than simply producing a high purity percentage.

The goal is to establish a documented relationship between identity, composition, purity, batch, and analytical evidence.

AICAR Analytical Testing at Peptides Grey House

For research customers evaluating AICAR material, Peptides Grey House can position analytical documentation around transparent research-quality information.

Recommended quality information includes:

AICAR product identity
CAS number
Molecular formula
Molecular weight
Lot or batch identification
HPLC purity information
Identity testing
COA documentation
Analytical testing information
Storage guidance
Research-use classification

The emphasis should remain on laboratory research and analytical characterization, rather than medical, therapeutic, or human-use claims.

Frequently Asked Questions About AICAR Analytical Testing

What is AICAR analytical testing?

AICAR analytical testing is the laboratory evaluation of AICAR identity, purity, composition, and other quality characteristics. Testing may include HPLC, LC-MS, NMR, water analysis, residual-solvent analysis, and elemental testing.

What is the molecular weight of AICAR?

AICAR has a commonly reported molecular weight of 258.23 g/mol and molecular formula C₉H₁₄N₄O₅.

What does AICAR HPLC testing show?

AICAR HPLC testing primarily provides chromatographic information used to evaluate purity and related substances according to the laboratory’s analytical method.

Is AICAR a peptide?

No. AICAR is a small-molecule purine nucleoside analog, not a conventional peptide.

What is an AICAR COA?

A Certificate of Analysis is a quality-control document containing analytical information for a specific product lot or batch. Depending on the supplier, it may contain HPLC, identity, molecular, physical, and additional QC results.

Why is the AICAR lot number important?

The lot number connects the physical research material to its analytical documentation. A COA should ideally correspond directly to the batch or lot being evaluated.

Does AICAR purity equal active content?

Not necessarily. HPLC purity and active-content or assay measurements are different analytical concepts. A complete QC package should clearly identify which measurement is being reported.

How does LC-MS identify AICAR?

LC-MS can separate the compound chromatographically and measure ions associated with its molecular mass. The observed m/z can then be compared with the expected value for the compound and ionization state.

Why can the LC-MS value differ from 258.23?

The 258.23 figure represents the commonly reported molecular weight of neutral AICAR. Mass spectrometry measures mass-to-charge ratio for ions, so a protonated AICAR ion can appear at a different m/z value.

Is one AICAR COA representative of every batch?

No. Analytical results are generally batch-specific. A current AICAR COA explicitly notes that its results apply to the identified source batch rather than being a universal product-wide certificate.

What analytical tests can be used for AICAR?

Depending on the research-quality program, possible tests include HPLC, LC-MS/ESI-MS, NMR, FTIR, Karl Fischer water analysis, GC-based residual-solvent testing, ICP-MS elemental analysis, and microbial testing.

Research-Use-Only Statement

AICAR research material described on this page is intended strictly for laboratory and scientific research purposes. It is not intended for human consumption, veterinary use, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, or mitigation of disease.

Analytical specifications, purity values, storage conditions, and testing results may vary by manufacturer and production batch. Researchers should review the applicable lot-specific Certificate of Analysis and technical documentation before using any research material.

This page provides general analytical and educational information and does not constitute medical advice or instructions for human use.