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| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
Research Summary | GHK-Cu is the ultimate beauty and repair signal. It grabs copper from your body and delivers it straight to your skin and hair, telling them to produce fresh, bouncy collagen and grow thicker hair. | This is a special copper peptide that tells hair follicles to wake up and grow. It acts like a tiny fertilizer for your scalp, making hair thicker and stronger. |
Studied For | Wound healingSkin anti-agingHair loss researchAntioxidant / anti-inflammatoryCollagen synthesis stimulationElastin productionGlycosaminoglycan synthesisDermal regenerationSkin tighteningWrinkle reductionMelanocyte stimulation / hair pigmentationScalp healthAlopecia modelsNerve regenerationLung tissue repairGI tract healingBone density supportAngiogenesisAntioxidant enzyme upregulationScar reductionSkin barrier restorationPost-procedure skin recoveryUV damage repair researchAnti-inflammatory skin researchskin tighteninganti-aginghair growthwrinkle repaircollagen productionscar reductionwound healingantioxidanttissue remodeling | Hair follicle growth / restorationAlopecia modelsAndrogenetic alopecia researchDermal regenerationSkin anti-agingCollagen and elastin synthesisScalp healthHair density improvementFollicle miniaturization reversalWound healingAngiogenesis for follicle supportBone density (copper-mediated collagen)Skin barrier restorationAnti-inflammatory scalp research |
Research Areas | Skin & HairHealing & RecoveryTissue RepairJoint & Bone SupportImmune | Skin & HairJoint & Bone SupportHealing & RecoveryTissue Repair |
Best Stacked With | tb-500bpc-157ahk-cusnap-8epithalonbac-water | ghk-cutb-500snap-8bac-water |
Overview | ||
Category | Skin, Hair & Cosmetics | Skin, Hair & Cosmetics |
Compound Class | Naturally occurring copper-binding tripeptide (Gly-His-Lys + Cu2+) | Copper-binding tripeptide (Ala-His-Lys + Cu2+); GHK-Cu analog with hair-follicle specificity |
Molecular Target | Extracellular matrix remodeling via MMP/TIMP balance; TGF-beta modulation; antioxidant enzyme (SOD, catalase) upregulation; VEGF and FGF stimulation | Copper delivery to follicle; FGF-7 (KGF) and VEGF upregulation; collagen synthesis; SOD-like antioxidant activity |
Aliases / AKA | Copper peptideGlycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine copperGHK-CopperGHK CuCopper tripeptide-1Copper peptide GHK | Copper Tripeptide-3AHK-CUAHK copperAla-His-Lys copper complexAHK CuCopper peptide AHK |
Parent Compound | Plasma copper tripeptide | GHK-Cu analog |
Molecular Weight | 340.85 Da | 379.92 Da |
Amino Acid Sequence | Gly-His-Lys + Cu(II) | Ala-His-Lys + Cu(II) |
CAS Number | 49557-75-7 (GHK-Cu complex) | No single registry CAS (AHK + Cu(II) complex; confirm per certificate of analysis) |
Year Discovered | Not Listed | Not Listed |
Pro-Angiogenic | Yes - Promotes New Vessel Growth | Yes - Promotes New Vessel Growth |
GLP-1 Class | No | No |
Purity | Not Listed | Not Listed |
Identity | ||
Evidence Tier | ||
Risk Level | ||
PubMed Citations | 127 Moderate | 2 Sparse |
Clinical Trials | 11 Active | Not Listed |
Regulatory Status | Cosmetic ingredient; injectable systemic use not approved. | Cosmetic ingredient; non-cosmetic forms are research chemical. |
Evidence & Regulatory | ||
Half-Life | ~5-10 minutes | ~5-10 minutes |
Typical Frequency | Not Listed | Not Listed |
Administration Route | Injection Only | Injection Only |
Mechanism / PK | Not Listed | Not Listed |
Reported Findings | Controlled cosmetic-dermatology studies report improved firmness and reduced fine lines from topical GHK-Cu, plus diabetic-ulcer and post-procedure healing. Systemic injectable human efficacy is not established. | In vitro and animal follicle studies show proliferation, anti-apoptosis, and growth-phase prolongation. Human clinical evidence is limited and cosmetic; preliminary. |
Side Effects Noted | Topically well tolerated; possible local irritation; copper-overload is a theoretical concern with high or systemic exposure. | Topically tolerated; possible irritation; copper-overload theoretical; vendor identity and CAS vary. |
Warnings | Recognized as a cosmetic ingredient, not a drug. Avoid co-layering with strong acids or high-dose vitamin C, which destabilize the copper complex. | Recognized as a cosmetic ingredient; same complex-stability caveat as GHK-Cu; CAS should be verified against a supplier certificate of analysis. |
Pharmacology | ||
Form | lyophilized (blue copper complex) | lyophilized (blue copper complex) |
Diluent | sterile or bacteriostatic water | sterile or bacteriostatic water |
Storage Temp | cold, dry, dark | cold, dry, dark |
Light Sensitive | Yes | Yes |
Freeze / Thaw | avoid | avoid |
Handling Notes | pH and redox sensitive. | pH and redox sensitive. |
Reconstituted Shelf Life | 28 Days Refrigerated | 28 Days Refrigerated |
Handling & Storage | ||
Pep Nation Lab's comparison tool puts research-grade peptides and compounds head to head - mechanism of action, molecular target, evidence tier, molecular weight, sequence, half-life, and documented research focus - so qualified researchers can evaluate the differences that matter. Every data point is drawn from a referenced monograph. For in vitro laboratory research use only.
The two most-studied research peptides for tissue repair and recovery.
Single GLP-1 versus dual GLP-1/GIP incretin agonists in metabolic research.
Dual versus triple incretin receptor agonists in weight-research models.
A GLP-1 agonist versus a triple-agonist incretin in metabolic research.
A GHRH analog versus a selective ghrelin-receptor secretagogue.
A ghrelin-receptor secretagogue versus a GHRH analog for growth-hormone research.
Two GHRH analogs studied on the growth-hormone axis.
The two first-generation growth-hormone releasing peptides.
An amylin analog versus a GLP-1 agonist in metabolic research.
A mitochondrial-derived peptide versus an HGH fragment in metabolic research.
Melanocortin versus kisspeptin pathways in reproductive research.
A telomerase-pathway peptide versus NAD+ metabolism in longevity research.
A potent versus a highly selective ghrelin-receptor secretagogue.
Two GHRH analogs with contrasting half-life profiles.
A direct IGF-1 analog versus a growth-hormone secretagogue.
The DAC versus non-DAC forms of the CJC-1295 GHRH analog.
Two Russian-developed nootropic and anxiolytic research peptides.
Two mitochondrial-targeted peptides in cellular-energy research.
Two immune-modulating research peptides with distinct mechanisms.
Two HGH-fragment analogs studied for fat-metabolism research.
Next-generation multi-receptor incretin agonists in metabolic research.
Two leading tissue-repair peptides with distinct healing mechanisms.
A systemic repair peptide versus a copper peptide for tissue and skin research.
A GHRH analog versus a selective ghrelin-receptor secretagogue on the GH axis.
A dual incretin agonist versus an amylin analog in metabolic research.
A triple incretin agonist versus an amylin analog in weight research.
Two metabolic research compounds targeting mitochondrial and NNMT pathways.
NAD+ metabolism versus a mitochondrial-derived peptide in longevity research.
Two copper research peptides studied for skin and hair.
A long-acting versus a short-acting GHRH analog.
A selective versus a first-generation ghrelin-receptor secretagogue.
A GLP-1 agonist versus a GLP-1/amylin combination in metabolic research.
Two peptides studied for gut and mucosal repair.
Melanocortin versus oxytocin pathways in intimacy and libido research.
Two thymic immune-modulating research peptides.
An anxiolytic nootropic versus a sleep-associated research peptide.
Direct IGF-1 signaling versus myostatin inhibition in muscle research.
A mitochondrial-targeted peptide versus NAD+ in cellular-energy research.
Browse the full research catalog or the A To Z index to compare any compound.
Any research-grade compound in the library can be placed side by side - up to four at a time. The tool compares mechanism of action, molecular target, evidence tier, molecular weight, amino acid sequence, reported half-life, and what each compound has been studied for, all drawn from referenced monographs.
The evidence tier reflects how extensively a compound has been studied in the referenced literature, from early preclinical signals through to compounds with human clinical data. It is a research-quality signal only, never a safety or efficacy endorsement.
Each comparison page is generated from the same referenced compound database - a genuine side-by-side of mechanism, identity, pharmacokinetics, and evidence, plus data-derived key differences. They are curated, not auto-generated thin pages.
No. Every comparison is for in vitro laboratory research use only. Nothing here is medical advice, a treatment recommendation, or dosing guidance, and no product is for human or animal consumption.
