GHK-Cu

GHK-Cu (glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine copper(II) complex) is a naturally occurring tripeptide-copper complex first isolated from human plasma by Pickart et al. in 1973. Unlike most peptides in research, GHK-Cu functions as a metal complex — the copper ion is essential to its bioactivity, enabling it to interact with copper-dependent enzymes and signalling pathways involved in extracellular matrix turnover, angiogenesis, and antioxidant defence. This unique copper-binding mechanism distinguishes GHK-Cu as a compound of interest in regenerative and dermal research models.

Areas of Interest

Laboratory studies of GHK-Cu have investigated a variety of promising areas:

• •Dermal matrix remodelling — studied for its influence on collagen, elastin, and glycosaminoglycan synthesis in fibroblast and tissue explant models.
• •Wound healing & angiogenesis — investigated in preclinical models for its effects on neovascularisation, re-epithelialisation, and granulation tissue formation.
• •Copper homeostasis & antioxidant signalling — explored as a modulator of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and oxidative stress pathways in cellular models.
• •Hair follicle biology — examined in ex vivo and in vivo models for effects on follicle size, dermal papilla cell activity, and anagen-phase duration.
• •Inflammation & cytokine modulation — studied in macrophage and keratinocyte models for its regulatory effects on NF-kappaB signalling and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression.

As a research-grade reference material, our GHK-Cu is supplied as a lyophilized powder with peptide purity of ≥99.5% by HPLC and copper content verified by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Each batch is accompanied by a Certificate of Analysis documenting sequence integrity, molecular weight confirmation, copper content, and chromatographic purity.