Differential Scanning Calorimetry - Glossary

DSC is a thermal analysis technique that measures the difference in heat flow between a sample and an inert reference when both are heated at the same rate. This method produces a thermogram, sometimes described as a thermal "fingerprint", which can show thermal properties such as melting points, phase transitions, or structural unfolding.

DSC data in lab reports and Certificates of Analysis

When you review a lab report or Certificate of Analysis, DSC provides data on a peptide's thermal stability and safety. These results indicate whether a substance may withstand heat during storage and help identify possible heat-related stress. However, these findings must be read within the specific limits of what DSC can and cannot show.

Limitations and common mix-ups of DSC

DSC is not a standard purity test; because peptides often degrade rather than melt cleanly, exact purity must be verified using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC).
DSC cannot prove molecular identity or amino acid sequence; that requires Mass Spectrometry (MS).
DSC is distinct from Differential Scanning Fluorimetry (DSF), which uses fluorescent dyes to detect unfolding, and from Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), which measures mass loss rather than heat flow.

DSC data in lab reports and Certificates of Analysis

Limitations and common mix-ups of DSC

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