GHK-Cu

Key Benefits#

• Reduces wrinkles and fine lines
• Improves skin firmness and elasticity
• Accelerates wound healing
• Reduces inflammation and oxidative damage
• Promotes hair growth and thickness
• Supports collagen and elastin production
• May improve overall skin health and appearance
• Resets aged fibroblast behavior
• Anti-fibrotic — reduces scar tissue formation

Mechanism of Action#

GHK-Cu activates tissue remodeling by modulating gene expression, promoting collagen and glycosaminoglycan synthesis, and enhancing angiogenesis. It influences over 4,000 human genes, shifting many toward a younger gene expression pattern. It also has potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, and may 'reset' aged fibroblasts to behave more like younger cells.

Dosing Protocols#

Side Effects#

• Temporary blue-green discoloration at injection site (from copper — harmless)
• Post-injection sting (brief)
• Skin irritation with topical use (rare)

Contraindications#

Copper sensitivity or Wilson's disease. Pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Storage#

Lyophilized powder: store at −20°C. Reconstituted: refrigerate at 2–8°C, use within 30 days. Topical products: per manufacturer instructions.

Featured In Stacks#

1. 1.
   Smart Healing for Wound Repair: Emerging Multifunctional Strategies in Personalized Regenerative Medicine and Their Relevance to Orthopedics

   Arciola CR, Panichi V, Bua G, Costantini S, Bottau G, Ravaioli S et al. · Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026ReviewPubMed Verified

2. 2.
   Therapeutic Peptides in Orthopaedics: Applications, Challenges, and Future Directions

   Rahman OF, Lee SJ, Seeds WA · Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Global research & reviews · 2026ReviewPubMed Verified

3. 3.
   Injectable Peptide Therapy: A Primer for Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Physicians

   Mayfield CK, Bolia IK, Feingold CL, Lin EH, Liu JN, Rick Hatch GF et al. · The American journal of sports medicine · 2026ReviewPubMed Verified

4. 4.
   Golgi-targeted copper delivery strategy via enhancing copper-dependent proteins' activity for fascia regeneration

   Wang R, Xu Y, Saiding Q, Ling S, Yu J, Zhuang Y et al. · Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society · 2026PubMed Verified

5. 5.
   An injectable hydroxyapatite microsphere filler loaded with GHK-Cu tripeptide for anti-Inflammatory and antioxidant

   Hu D, Zhang X, Gong S, Ma W, Cheng B, Yang J et al. · Colloids and surfaces. B, Biointerfaces · 2025PubMed Verified

6. 6.
   Exploring the beneficial effects of GHK-Cu on an experimental model of colitis and the underlying mechanisms

   Mao S, Huang J, Li J, Sun F, Zhang Q, Cheng Q et al. · Frontiers in pharmacology · 2025PubMed Verified

7. 7.
   Copper Complexes with New Glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine-Hyaluronan Conjugates Show Antioxidant Properties and Osteogenic and Angiogenic Synergistic Effects

   Greco V, Lanza V, Tomasello B, Naletova I, Cairns WRL, Sciuto S et al. · Bioconjugate chemistry · 2025PubMed Verified

8. 8.
   Self-Assembled Peptide-Gold Nanoparticle 1D Nanohybrids Functionalized with GHK Tripeptide for Enhanced Wound-Healing and Photothermal Therapy

   Jeon N, Kim L, Choi SG, Lee H, Min JY, Kim HM et al. · ACS applied materials & interfaces · 2025PubMed Verified

9. 9.
   Topically applied GHK as an anti-wrinkle peptide: Advantages, problems and prospective

   Mortazavi SM, Mohammadi Vadoud SA, Moghimi HR · BioImpacts : BI · 2025ReviewPubMed Verified

10. 10.
    Food-Derived Tripeptide-Copper Self-Healing Hydrogel for Infected Wound Healing

    Chen H, Yang P, Xue P, Li S, Dan X, Li Y et al. · Biomaterials research · 2025PubMed Verified

11. 11.
    Are We Ready to Measure Skin Permeation of Modern Antiaging GHK-Cu Tripeptide Encapsulated in Liposomes?

    Ogórek K, Nowak K, Wadych E, Ruzik L, Timerbaev AR, Matczuk M · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025ReviewPubMed Verified

12. 12.
    Palmitoyl copper peptide and acetyl tyrosine complex enhances melanin production in both A375 and B16 cell lines

    Hong M, Gui Y, Xu J, Zhao X, Jiang C, Zhao J et al. · Biochemical and biophysical research communications · 2025PubMed Verified

13. 13.
    Novel Applications of CE-ICP-MS/MS: Monitoring of Antiaging GHK-Cu Cosmetic Component Encapsulation in Liposomes

    Zajda J, Wadych E, Ogórek K, Drozd M, Matczuk M · Electrophoresis · 2024PubMed Verified

14. 14.
    The glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine-Cu(2+) tripeptide complex attenuates lung inflammation and fibrosis in silicosis by targeting peroxiredoxin 6

    Bian Y, Deng M, Liu J, Li J, Zhang Q, Wang Z et al. · Redox biology · 2024PubMed Verified

15. 15.
    Glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine prevents copper- and zinc-induced protein aggregation and central nervous system cell death in vitro

    Min JH, Sarlus H, Harris RA · Metallomics : integrated biometal science · 2024PubMed Verified

16. 16.
    Rigid-flexible nanocarriers loaded with active peptides for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory applications in skin

    Wang Y, Lin J, Yu Z, Cheng J, Cheng J, Cui W · Colloids and surfaces. B, Biointerfaces · 2024PubMed Verified

17. 17.
    Effects of Gly-His-Lys-D-Ala Peptide on Skin Wound Regeneration Processes

    Rakhmetova KK, Mishina ES, Bobyntsev II, Bezhin AI, Vorvul AO · Bulletin of experimental biology and medicine · 2024PubMed Verified

18. 18.
    Behavioral and neuropathological features of Alzheimer's disease are attenuated in 5xFAD mice treated with intranasal GHK peptide

    Tucker M, Liao GY, Keely A, Park JY, Rosenfeld M, Wezeman J et al. · Aging pathobiology and therapeutics · 2024PubMed Verified

19. 19.
    Behavioral and neuropathological features of Alzheimer's disease are attenuated in 5xFAD mice treated with intranasal GHK peptide

    Tucker M, Liao GY, Park JY, Rosenfeld M, Wezeman J, Mangalindan R et al. · bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2023PubMed Verified

20. 20.
    Thermodynamically stable ionic liquid microemulsions pioneer pathways for topical delivery and peptide application

    Liu T, Liu Y, Zhao X, Zhang L, Wang W, Bai D et al. · Bioactive materials · 2024PubMed Verified

21. 21.
    Intranasal GHK peptide enhances resilience to cognitive decline in aging mice

    Tucker M, Keely A, Park JY, Rosenfeld M, Wezeman J, Mangalindan R et al. · bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2023PubMed Verified

22. 22.
    Liposomes as Carriers of GHK-Cu Tripeptide for Cosmetic Application

    Dymek M, Olechowska K, Hąc-Wydro K, Sikora E · Pharmaceutics · 2023PubMed Verified

23. 23.
    Phenothiazine-Based Cu(II)-Selective Fluorescent Sensor: GHK-Cu Sensing Applications

    Sahu R, Yadav S, Gunturu KC, Kapdi AR · The Journal of organic chemistry · 2023PubMed Verified

24. 24.
    Ultrasensitive and Label-Free Detection of Copper Ions by GHK-Modified Asymmetric Nanochannels

    An P, Zhang Z, Yang J, Wang T, Wang Z, Sun CL et al. · Analytical chemistry · 2023PubMed Verified

25. 25.
    Multi working mode SPR chip laboratory for high refractive index detection

    Ren Z, Liu C, Wei Y, Liu C, Shi C, Wang X et al. · Optics express · 2023PubMed Verified

26. 26.
    Relief of ovalbumin-induced airway remodeling by the glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine-Cu(2+) tripeptide complex via activation of SIRT1 in airway epithelial cells

    Zhang Q, Liu J, Deng MM, Tong R, Hou G · Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie · 2023PubMed Verified

27. 27.
    Improved laccase production by Trametes versicolor using Copper-Glycyl-L-Histidyl-L-Lysine as a novel and high-efficient inducer

    Wang F, Yu X, Yu Z, Cui Y, Xu L, Huo S et al. · Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology · 2023PubMed Verified

28. 28.
    Differential Effects of Histidine and Histidinamide versus Cysteine and Cysteinamide on Copper Ion-Induced Oxidative Stress and Cytotoxicity in HaCaT Keratinocytes

    Ha JW, Choi JY, Boo YC · Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023PubMed Verified

29. 29.
    Synergy of GHK-Cu and hyaluronic acid on collagen IV upregulation via fibroblast and ex-vivo skin tests

    Jiang F, Wu Y, Liu Z, Hong M, Huang Y · Journal of cosmetic dermatology · 2023PubMed Verified

30. 30.
    Glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine-Cu(2+) rescues cigarette smoking-induced skeletal muscle dysfunction via a sirtuin 1-dependent pathway

    Deng M, Zhang Q, Yan L, Bian Y, Li R, Gao J et al. · Journal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle · 2023PubMed Verified

31. 31.
    Glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu(2+) attenuates cigarette smoke-induced pulmonary emphysema and inflammation by reducing oxidative stress pathway

    Zhang Q, Yan L, Lu J, Zhou X · Frontiers in molecular biosciences · 2022PubMed Verified

32. 32.
    Biomimetic Hydrogel Scaffolds with Copper Peptide-Functionalized RADA16 Nanofiber Improve Wound Healing in Diabetes

    Yang X, Zhang Y, Huang C, Lu L, Chen J, Weng Y · Macromolecular bioscience · 2022PubMed Verified

33. 33.
    Polyaspartic acid, 2-acrylamido-2-Methyl propane sulfonic acid and sodium alginate based biocompatible stimuli responsive polymer gel for controlled release of GHK-Cu peptide for wound healing

    Sharma S, Anwar MF, Dinda AK, Singhal M, Dua A, Malik A · Journal of biomaterials applications · 2022PubMed Verified

34. 34.
    Efficient Ternary Polymer Solar Cells with Tunable Crystallinity and Phase Separation of Active Layers via Incorporating GHK-Cu

    Huang J, Yu H · ACS applied materials & interfaces · 2021PubMed Verified

35. 35.
    Tripeptide/Hexapeptide Topical in Esthetics: Evidence behind the Skincare Formulation

    Wang JV, Hattier G, Saedi N · Skinmed · 2021ReviewPubMed Verified

36. 36.
    Protective and Anti-Aging Effects of 5 Cosmeceutical Peptide Mixtures on Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Premature Senescence in Human Skin Fibroblasts

    Wu Y, Cao K, Zhang W, Zhang G, Zhou M · Skin pharmacology and physiology · 2021PubMed Verified

37. 37.
    Enhanced angiogenic effects of RGD, GHK peptides and copper (II) compositions in synthetic cryogel ECM model

    Zoughaib M, Luong D, Garifullin R, Gatina DZ, Fedosimova SV, Abdullin TI · Materials science & engineering. C, Materials for biological applications · 2021PubMed Verified

38. 38.
    Combination Tripeptide/Hexapeptide Serum with 1540 nm Nonablative Fractional Laser for the Treatment of Striae Distensae: A Pilot Study

    McGuinn KP, Ross NA, Wang JV, Saedi N · Skinmed · 2020PubMed Verified

39. 39.
    Hydrogels based on low-methoxyl amidated citrus pectin and flaxseed gum formulated with tripeptide glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine improve the healing of experimental cutting wounds in rats

    Synytsya A, Poučková P, Zadinová M, Troshchynska Y, Štětina J, Synytsya A et al. · International journal of biological macromolecules · 2020PubMed Verified

40. 40.
    Ternary Cu(II) Complex with GHK Peptide and Cis-Urocanic Acid as a Potential Physiologically Functional Copper Chelate

    Bossak-Ahmad K, Wiśniewska MD, Bal W, Drew SC, Frączyk T · International journal of molecular sciences · 2020PubMed Verified

41. 41.
    Expression and Purification of Recombinant GHK Tripeptides Are Able to Protect against Acute Cardiotoxicity from Exposure to Waterborne-Copper in Zebrafish

    Hsiao CD, Wu HH, Malhotra N, Liu YC, Wu YH, Lin YN et al. · Biomolecules · 2020PubMed Verified

42. 42.
    Coassemble dopamine and GHK tripeptide into fluorescent nanoparticles for pH sensing

    Zheng F, Guo J, Khan AJ, Miao P, Zhang F · Luminescence : the journal of biological and chemical luminescence · 2021PubMed Verified

43. 43.
    Theoretical study of copper binding to GHK peptide

    Alshammari N, Platts JA · Computational biology and chemistry · 2020PubMed Verified

44. 44.
    Enhanced biological properties of collagen/chitosan-coated poly(ε-caprolactone) scaffold by surface modification with GHK-Cu peptide and 58S bioglass

    Molavi AM, Sadeghi-Avalshahr A, Nokhasteh S, Naderi-Meshkin H · Progress in biomaterials · 2020PubMed Verified

45. 45.
    The potential of GHK as an anti-aging peptide

    Dou Y, Lee A, Zhu L, Morton J, Ladiges W · Aging pathobiology and therapeutics · 2020PubMed Verified

46. 46.
    In Vitro and in Vivo Studies of pH-Sensitive GHK-Cu-Incorporated Polyaspartic and Polyacrylic Acid Superabsorbent Polymer

    Sharma S, Anwar MF, Dinda A, Singhal M, Malik A · ACS omega · 2019PubMed Verified

47. 47.
    Protective effects of GHK-Cu in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis via anti-oxidative stress and anti-inflammation pathways

    Ma WH, Li M, Ma HF, Li W, Liu L, Yin Y et al. · Life sciences · 2020PubMed Verified

48. 48.
    Effect of oligoarginine conjugation on the antiwrinkle activity and transdermal delivery of GHK peptide

    Hur GH, Han SC, Ryu AR, Eom Y, Kim JW, Lee MY · Journal of peptide science : an official publication of the European Peptide Society · 2020PubMed Verified

49. 49.
    Electrophoretic deposition of GHK-Cu loaded MSN-chitosan coatings with pH-responsive release of copper and its bioactivity

    Ning C, Jiajia J, Meng L, Hongfei Q, Xianglong W, Tingli L · Materials science & engineering. C, Materials for biological applications · 2019PubMed Verified

50. 50.
    Chelating Surfaces for Oriented Human Serum Albumin Molecules

    Tuccitto N, Messina GML, Li-Destri G, Wietecka A, Marletta G · Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids · 2019PubMed Verified