Not medical advice. GHK-Cu is a research compound. This guide does not provide dosing, diagnosis, therapy recommendations, or claims about effects in humans.
GHK-Cu pairs a tiny three-amino-acid peptide with copper. Studies explore gene-expression changes, collagen-related biology, and oxidative stress in skin and wound models.
One-paragraph overview from our research datasheet — still scientific, but faster to read than the full mechanism list below.
GHK-Cu copper tripeptide-1 modulates 4,000+ human genes governing collagen synthesis, NF-κB suppression, and VEGF-mediated angiogenesis for tissue regeneration.
Peer-reviewed literature typically discusses GHK-Cu in specific experimental settings. The points below reflect how the scientific community frames this compound—not as health claims, but as the research questions being asked.
Research vs. personal use: Literature describes experiments in controlled lab and animal models. This is distinct from any real-world use; our products are for laboratory research only.
This group is commonly explored in dermatology-style research: collagen-related pathways, extracellular matrix, and how skin-supporting cells respond after stress or ageing-related change in lab settings.
Our datasheet lists mechanistic themes observed in preclinical work. These are research endpoints, not health claims. They help scientists understand and compare pathways.
Storage requirements: Lyophilised powder: store in freezer (−20 °C). Reconstituted: refrigerate 1–6 °C, away from sunlight. Use within the validated stability window for the specific batch and formulation. · Learn best practices in our detailed storage guide.
Research dosing context: Literature typically discusses ~1–2 mg per subcutaneous injection in reconstituted research/community protocols (≈5–10 mg/week); 1–10 μg topical or 50–200 μg subcutaneous in the published cosmetic-chemistry literature · 2–3 times weekly subcutaneous injection (≈5–10 mg/week total); daily to twice daily for topical formulations · Free peptide MW ~340 Da; Cu complex ~403 Da. Plasma t½ < 30 min for tripeptides. Cu(II) coordination: log K = 16.44 at physiological pH. Plasma levels decline from 200 ng/mL (age 20) to 80 ng/mL (age 60). Only GHK, GHK-Cu, and (GHK)₂-Cu penetrate stratum corneum membrane model. ~95% cleared after dermal injection. Active at picomolar-nanomolar concentrations.
Preparation steps: Follow our detailed reconstitution guide, use the calculator tool for volume confirmation, and always verify purity with the COA reading guide.
GHK-Cu (glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine copper complex, also called copper tripeptide-1) is a small tripeptide bound to a copper(II) ion. It was first isolated from human plasma in 1973 by biochemist Loren Pickart. The free peptide has a molecular weight of ~340 Da; the copper complex ~403 Da. It is studied as a research-grade regenerative signalling molecule for skin, hair, wound-healing and gene-expression work.
GHK-Cu is a small copper-bound tripeptide that acts as a signalling molecule for tissue regeneration in the research literature. It increases collagen and glycosaminoglycan production, promotes new blood vessel growth (VEGF / angiogenesis), dampens NF-κB-driven inflammation, raises antioxidant enzymes (glutathione, SOD, ascorbate), and modulates the expression of more than 4,000 human genes toward a more youthful, regenerative profile (Pickart et al., BioMed Research International, 2015).
Reported figures fall into two regimes. The published cosmetic-chemistry and wound-healing literature uses microgram amounts — roughly 1–10 μg topical per application and 50–200 μg subcutaneous, about 2–3 times weekly. Separately, injectable research/community protocols are reported in milligram amounts — around 1–2 mg per subcutaneous dose (≈5–10 mg per week). Plasma half-life of the free tripeptide is under 30 minutes and ~95% is cleared after dermal injection. New-U publishes both only as descriptive research context — not human dosing guidance; GHK-Cu is supplied for research use only.
Both routes appear in the research literature. Topical formulations target dermal fibroblasts and hair follicles directly, while subcutaneous or intramuscular injection is used when systemic tissue remodelling is the research endpoint. Importantly, only copper-complexed forms (GHK-Cu and the dimeric (GHK)₂-Cu) penetrate the stratum corneum effectively; unliganded GHK shows weaker topical activity in membrane-model studies.
GHK-Cu is an endogenous human tripeptide; your own plasma contains it (about 200 ng/mL at age 20, declining to ~80 ng/mL by age 60). In the published cosmetic and wound-healing literature — which uses the microgram-scale topical and subcutaneous doses noted above — it has generally been well tolerated with no serious systemic toxicity reported. There are no controlled human safety trials of the larger milligram injectable protocols, so safety at those amounts is not established. GHK-Cu is a research compound, not a medicine; New-U Research Compounds supplies it for in-vitro and preclinical laboratory research only and makes no human-use or medical-treatment claims.
GHK-Cu is not an FDA-approved drug. It is widely used in cosmetic chemistry, where copper tripeptide-1 is permitted as an ingredient, and it is studied extensively in academic regenerative-medicine and wound-healing research. New-U supplies GHK-Cu as a research-grade lyophilised powder strictly for laboratory and research use, not for human consumption or therapeutic use.
Published research on GHK-Cu has not identified a carcinogenic signal; it is studied for tissue repair, gene-expression modulation and anti-inflammatory effects, not tumour promotion. Some literature even reports the related GHK tripeptide may help reset cancer-cell gene expression toward a more normal phenotype (Hong et al., 2012). That said, GHK-Cu is a research compound, not a medicine, and any decision about whether to study it in a given model should be guided by your institution's research-ethics framework and the current peer-reviewed literature.
Yes, in research and cosmetic-chemistry contexts. GHK-Cu suppresses NF-κB-driven inflammation, accelerates wound-bed remodelling, and stimulates dermal collagen and glycosaminoglycan synthesis at picomolar concentrations. Together these mechanisms support its use in studies of post-inflammatory acne marks and atrophic acne-scar remodelling. Effects are reported with sustained topical exposure rather than single-dose application.
In cosmetic-chemistry studies, visible skin endpoints (texture, fine-line depth, photoaging markers) are typically measured after 4–12 weeks of sustained topical exposure. Gene-expression and fibroblast-activation effects, however, are documented within hours in vitro. Wound-healing studies in animal models show measurable remodelling within days. Timelines depend heavily on route, concentration, frequency, and the specific endpoint being measured.
Copper is a required cofactor for several repair enzymes including lysyl oxidase, which cross-links collagen and elastin to give skin its tensile strength. GHK binds Cu(II) with very high affinity (log K ≈ 16.44 at physiological pH) and delivers it safely into cells without triggering the Fenton-chemistry oxidative damage that free copper ions can cause. This is why copper-complexed GHK-Cu is biologically active where free GHK alone is not.
Use bacteriostatic water for injection; the resulting solution will have a characteristic blue tint from the copper complex. Store the reconstituted vial at 1–6 °C and protect from light. Unreconstituted lyophilised powder should stay in a −20 °C freezer until use. Use within the validated stability window for the specific batch and formulation.
New-U Research Compounds supplies GHK-Cu as a lyophilised, copper-complexed powder in 10-vial research packs at 50 mg or 100 mg per vial, independently verified at >99% HPLC purity by Janoshik Analytics and Freedom Diagnostics, with a batch-linked Certificate of Analysis. Direct-from-source pricing, discreet cold-chain shipping (6–14 days worldwide), free shipping over $300, card and cryptocurrency accepted. For research and laboratory use only.
A retail copper peptide serum or cream is a finished consumer cosmetic: copper tripeptide-1 pre-diluted to a low percentage and blended with stabilisers, emollients and preservatives. New-U supplies the opposite: research-grade GHK-Cu as a >99% HPLC lyophilised powder with no fillers, so a laboratory sets the exact concentration, diluent and pH for its own formulation or in-vitro work. The raw compound is the correct input for research and formulation development; a finished serum is a consumer product. New-U supplies GHK-Cu for laboratory research use only and makes no cosmetic or human-use claims.
In cosmetic-chemistry research GHK-Cu is of interest for sensitive-skin endpoints because it is active at picomolar–nanomolar concentrations and works by suppressing NF-κB-driven inflammation rather than relying on harsh actives, the same anti-inflammatory and barrier-supporting mechanisms studied for redness and reactivity. Tolerance depends entirely on the finished formulation (concentration, pH, vehicle, copper load), so these are research observations rather than a guarantee of skin tolerability. New-U supplies research-grade GHK-Cu powder strictly for laboratory and in-vitro formulation research; nothing here is a cosmetic or medical claim.
No, and no. This article is educational only. We do not provide dosing, medical recommendations, or health claims. Our products are sold strictly for laboratory research, not for personal use of any kind.
Open the shop listing via “View product details.” There you will see batch specs, the Certificate of Analysis (COA), concentration, purity grade, and available SKUs with current pricing.
Other compounds researchers often read about alongside GHK-Cu.
Primary literature and registries for GHK-Cu, plus mainstream coverage of the peptide category. Research use only - not medical advice.
Databases & literature:
Peptides in the news:
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Also known as: GHK-Cu, Copper Tripeptide-1, Copper Peptide GHK-Cu, Glycyl-L-Histidyl-L-Lysine Copper Complex, (GHK)₂-Cu, Loren Pickart Copper Peptide, Copper Tripeptide