GHK-Cu
Anti-Aging & Longevity

GHK-Cu

Price range: $88.00 through $153.00

Per vial
$8.80
10 vials per pack
Suggested retail
$26.40
3× markup · per vial
Free shipping on orders over $2,000
$300 store credit on any independent COA · results don't matter
  • Delivery guarantee Reshipped free if it doesn't arrive
  • ≥99% purity Manufacturer-direct production
  • Store credit guarantee Send any COA result, get store credit

GHK-Cu - Copper Tripeptide (Gly-His-Lys-Cu) Research Compound

GHK-Cu is the copper-bound form of the tripeptide Gly-His-Lys, first isolated by Loren Pickart in 1973 from human plasma albumin. The free GHK sequence binds divalent copper (Cu²⁺) with high affinity, and the resulting GHK-Cu complex is what shows up in the published skin-repair, hair-follicle, and angiogenesis literature. It is the reference compound in the “copper peptide” category and sits at the center of most finished cosmetic serums that list copper peptides on the label - GHK-Cu research axis is tissue remodeling, wound repair, and trophic signaling.

Why the Copper-Bound Form Matters

Free GHK has modest biological activity on its own. The copper-bound form is what drives the published research profile. The Cu²⁺ ion positions GHK’s histidine imidazole and amine groups into a geometry that activates fibroblast collagen synthesis, upregulates decorin, and modulates copper-dependent antioxidant enzymes (SOD, ceruloplasmin). That is why the research literature is built around GHK-Cu specifically, not around GHK alone.

Pathway What it does in plain terms
Copper delivery (Cu²⁺) Delivers copper to tissue in a chaperoned, non-toxic form
Collagen / decorin synthesis Upregulated - drives dermal-matrix remodeling in published fibroblast work
Angiogenesis (VEGF pathway) Supports new capillary formation in wound-healing models
Hair-follicle signaling Enlarges follicle size in published rodent dermal-papilla studies
Antioxidant enzymes (SOD) Activated via copper cofactor delivery
Gene-expression profile Modulates ~4,000 human genes toward a “younger” expression pattern in Pickart’s published arrays

GHK-Cu Topical vs Injection Research

Two distinct research axes exist for GHK-Cu. Topical formulations (serums, creams) sit in the cosmetic dermatology literature; injection research sits in the wound-healing and systemic-signaling literature. The mechanism is the same; the delivery route determines which endpoints are measurable.

Route Research context
Topical Skin-surface endpoints - collagen density, fine-line remodeling, pigmentation studies
Subcutaneous injection Systemic wound-repair, hair-follicle, and angiogenesis endpoints in rodent models

Research Applications

GHK-Cu is used in studies examining:

  • Dermal collagen and decorin synthesis endpoints
  • Wound-healing and post-injury tissue remodeling
  • Hair-follicle enlargement and dermal-papilla signaling
  • Angiogenesis and capillary-formation models
  • Copper-dependent antioxidant enzyme (SOD) activity
  • Gene-expression profiling against “aged” tissue baselines

Specifications
Format Lyophilized powder (blue tint from copper coordination)
Purity ≥99%
Aliases Copper peptide, Gly-His-Lys-Cu, tripeptide-1 copper, GHK copper complex
Available sizes 50mg · 100mg
Storage 2-8°C unopened; stable 12+ months
Use Research purposes only - not for human use

Storage & Handling

Unopened vials are kept at 2-8°C under standard cold-chain conditions and remain stable for 12+ months. Reconstitution parameters, solvent compatibility, and post-reconstitution stability for GHK-Cu are documented in the published peer-reviewed literature and standard peptide-chemistry references.

Reference Literature

Published clinical and preclinical GHK-Cu literature is available through PubMed, Google Scholar, and other peer-reviewed databases. WWP does not provide protocol design, dosing guidance, or administration parameters. Those decisions rest with the researcher and any applicable institutional review board.

Common Questions About GHK-Cu Research

What is GHK-Cu used for in research?

It is studied primarily on the tissue-remodeling axis. Published work covers dermal collagen and decorin synthesis, wound-healing endpoints, hair-follicle enlargement, angiogenesis, and a large gene-expression literature from Pickart’s group showing GHK-Cu shifts tissue toward a “younger” expression profile.

What is the difference between GHK and GHK-Cu?

GHK is the free tripeptide (Gly-His-Lys). GHK-Cu is the same peptide bound to a divalent copper ion. Free GHK has modest activity on its own - the copper-bound form is what drives the published tissue-remodeling and fibroblast literature. The blue color of reconstituted GHK-Cu is the visible signature of the copper coordination.

Is GHK-Cu used topically or by injection?

Both. Topical formulations dominate the cosmetic-dermatology literature (collagen density, fine-line remodeling). Injection research dominates the wound-healing, angiogenesis, and hair-follicle literature. The mechanism is the same; the delivery route determines which endpoints are measurable in a given study design.

Is GHK-Cu FDA approved?

No. GHK-Cu is not FDA approved as an injectable drug. It appears as an ingredient in cosmetic products regulated under cosmetic (not drug) pathways. Every vial WWP ships is labeled and sold strictly for laboratory and research use only.

How is GHK-Cu stored?

Unopened vials are stored at 2-8°C and stay stable for 12+ months. Once reconstituted with bacteriostatic water, the blue-tinted solution is kept at 2-8°C and used within 28-30 days.

Purity Guarantee

Every batch is ≥99% purity. Send us a COA from any independent test and we’ll issue store credit regardless of what it shows.

You might also like View all products →