What Is GHK-Cu?

Overview

GHK-Cu is a copper complex of the tripeptide GHK — glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine — in which the short peptide chelates a copper(II) ion. The complex carries the molecular formula C₁₄H₂₄CuN₆O₄ and a molecular weight of roughly 403.9 g/mol. The free GHK sequence occurs naturally in human plasma, where its concentration declines with age, and it is this copper-bound form that dominates the research literature on tissue repair and skin biology. Because the molecule sits at the intersection of trace-metal chemistry and matrix signalling, it appears across studies spanning dermatology, regenerative wound models and gene-expression work.

How GHK-Cu Works

The compound's activity is tied to its ability to carry and exchange copper, a cofactor for several enzymes involved in connective-tissue maintenance. In cell-culture research GHK-Cu is reported to influence fibroblast behaviour, modulate matrix metalloproteinase expression, and shift the balance of extracellular-matrix synthesis and breakdown. Investigators have documented effects on collagen and sulfated glycosaminoglycan production, alongside signalling associated with inflammation control and antioxidant pathways. Broad gene-expression analyses have framed these observations as a coordinated "regenerative" signature rather than a single isolated mechanism, which is part of why the peptide is studied in both skin-ageing and wound-closure contexts.

What the Research Explores

• Collagen synthesis and fibroblast activity in cultured skin cells.
• Wound-closure dynamics, including topical models of diabetic neuropathic ulcers.
• Sulfated glycosaminoglycan production and extracellular-matrix remodelling.
• Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-2) regulation in fibroblast cultures.
• Photoaging and skin-density endpoints in topical cosmetic studies.
• Hair-follicle biology, drawn largely from in-vitro and rodent models.

Forms & Handling

For laboratory work GHK-Cu is commonly supplied as a lyophilized powder, with 50 mg and 100 mg vials among the typical fills. A 50 mg vial reconstituted with 3.0 mL of bacteriostatic water yields a working concentration of about 16.67 mg/mL. In solution the copper complex characteristically takes on a faint blue tint. The dry powder is best stored sealed and dark at around −20 °C; once reconstituted, the literature handling convention is refrigeration at 2–8 °C, protected from light, with the date and concentration labelled on the vial. See the dosing protocol below for the reconstitution math expressed in insulin-syringe units.

Safety & Research Notes

GHK-Cu is an investigational research compound with no approved human or veterinary use. Most of the human data sits in topical cosmetic and wound-care contexts; injectable preparations carry far less safety evidence, and regulators have flagged concerns around immunogenicity, aggregation and peptide-related impurities for compounded injectable copper peptide. Reported topical issues include skin irritation and allergic reaction, and long-term safety remains poorly characterised. Anything described here is mechanistic background drawn from the laboratory literature, not a usage recommendation.

References

Related Protocols