Technical Data Sheet
AHK-Cu
Also Known As: Copper Tripeptide-3, AHK-CU, AHK copper, Ala-His-Lys copper complex, AHK Cu, Copper peptide AHK, Follicle copper peptide, Hair growth copper tripeptide, Dermal copper AHK, AHK-Cu tripeptide, GHK-Cu analog hair, Alanine-Histidine-Lysine copper
Scan To View Profile
| Evidence Tier | Cosmetic |
|---|---|
| Category | Skin, Hair & Cosmetics |
| Class | Copper-binding tripeptide (Ala-His-Lys + Cu2+); GHK-Cu analog with hair-follicle specificity |
| Molecular Target | Copper delivery to follicle; FGF-7 (KGF) and VEGF upregulation; collagen synthesis; SOD-like antioxidant activity |
| Sequence | Ala-His-Lys + Cu(II) |
| Molecular Weight | 354.41 Da free AHK tripeptide; 415.93 Da AHK-Cu complex (C15H24CuN6O4); 452.40 Da hydrochloride form |
| CAS | 767286-83-9 (AHK-Cu, copper tripeptide-3); 682809-81-0 (hydrochloride form) |
| Parent | GHK-Cu analog |
| Mechanism | It works by sending a chemical message to the tiny cells at the root of your hair, telling them to stay alive longer, grow faster, and build stronger blood vessels around the hair root. |
| Studied For | Hair follicle growth / restoration, Alopecia models, Androgenetic alopecia research, Dermal regeneration, Skin anti-aging, Collagen and elastin synthesis, Scalp health, Hair density improvement, Follicle miniaturization reversal, Wound healing, Angiogenesis for follicle support, Bone density (copper-mediated collagen), Skin barrier restoration, Anti-inflammatory scalp research |
| Administration Route | Injection Only |
| Form | lyophilized (blue copper complex) |
| Diluent | sterile or bacteriostatic water |
| Storage Temperature | cold, dry, dark |
| Light Sensitive | Yes |
| Freeze / Thaw | avoid |
| Reconstituted Shelf Life | 28 Days |
| Handling Notes | pH and redox sensitive. |
| Regulatory | Cosmetic ingredient; non-cosmetic forms are research chemical. |
| Sources |