GHK-Cu

Also: copper tripeptide-1, glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine copper

Legal status United KingdomNot approvedUnited StatesNot approvedAustraliaNot listed
Research on peptidefix

4 papers: 2 animal studies, 2 reviews or preprints.

Listed suppliers United Kingdom15United States11Australia8 Europe10
Checked 2026-11-03

Legal status as understood on this date. Listed, not endorsed. How we list.

Summary

GHK-Cu is a naturally occurring three-amino-acid peptide bound to copper. It is found in human plasma, saliva and urine, and its concentration declines with age. It is long-established as a cosmetic skincare ingredient, which makes it unusual among the substances on this site.

What it targets

The primary animal evidence is a 1993 study in which wire mesh chambers implanted under the skin of rats were injected repeatedly with GHK-Cu or saline, and the contents analysed for collagen, elastin, glycosaminoglycans, protein, DNA and specific messenger RNAs; the authors reported that the copper complex stimulated connective tissue accumulation. A 2018 review by the peptide's principal investigator collects the gene-expression data and reports effects on blood vessel and nerve outgrowth, collagen, elastin and glycosaminoglycan synthesis, and dermal fibroblast function, along with a wide range of further claims. A 2026 preprint reported effects in middle-aged mice given the peptide by injection; it is labelled a preprint and has not been peer-reviewed.

connective tissue and collagen accumulation in rat woundscollagen, elastin and glycosaminoglycan synthesis (review of gene data)markers of ageing in middle-aged mice (preprint)

Clinical Research

In vivo stimulation of connective tissue accumulation by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+ in rat experimental wounds
Maquart FX, Bellon G, Chaqour B, et al. (1993). Journal of Clinical Investigation. animal rats with wound chambers implanted under the skin, given repeated injections of GHK-Cu or saline
Regenerative and protective actions of the GHK-Cu peptide in the light of the new gene data
Pickart L, Margolina A (2018). International Journal of Molecular Sciences. review n/a (review)
Middle-aged mice treated with GHK-Cu peptide administered intraperitoneally or intranasally show behavioral rescue but divergent hippocampal aging programs
Mazzola J, Rosenfeld M, Tucker M, Wezeman J, Ladiges W, Liao GY (2026). bioRxiv (preprint). preprint aged C57BL/6J mice (20–21 months), both sexes

All research on GHK-Cu →

Suppliers stocking GHK-Cu

44 of the 49 listed suppliers. Each row opens its full listing.

Au Peptide Labs Australia For laboratory research use only. Not for human consumption. Aussie Peptides Australia Research use only. Statements have not been evaluated by the TGA. We do not ship internationally at this time. Australian Peptide Site Australia Intended for laboratory and scientific research use only. Australian Research Peptides Australia All products sold by Australian Research Peptides are supplied for in vitro research purposes only — not for human or animal consumption, and not drugs, foods, cosmetics or dietary supplements. Baltic BioLabs Lithuania For laboratory research only, not for human or veterinary use. Baltic Peptides Lithuania All products are supplied strictly for laboratory research use only. Not for human or veterinary use. BioLongevity Labs United States All products are manufactured for research use only. Research Use Only products sold here are intended solely for laboratory research. Bluewell Peptides United Kingdom All Bluewell products are supplied strictly for laboratory research use only. They are not intended for human consumption, medical use, therapeutic use, diagnostic use, or veterinary use. British Peptide Labs United Kingdom For research use only. Not for human or veterinary use. Sold strictly for in-vitro laboratory research; not for diagnosis or treatment. CertaPeptides Romania All CertaPeptides products are sold exclusively for in-vitro laboratory research. They are not approved for human consumption, veterinary use, therapeutic applications… Core Peptides United States Products are for laboratory, research or analytical purposes only, and are not for human consumption. Direct Peptides United States All products are sold strictly for laboratory research use only and are not for human or animal consumption. Direct Peptides is a chemical supplier, not a compounding pharmacy or 503A/503B facility. Dutch Peptides Netherlands Research Use Only — not for human consumption. ELYVERA Austria All products are for research purposes only. Eurolabs Peptides Germany For research purposes only. Not for human consumption. Global Peptides Australia Unmodified peptides are sold for research use only. HEEZ Research United States All products are for laboratory developmental research use only. Products are not for human consumption. HEEZ Research is a chemical supplier. Imperial Peptides UK United Kingdom In Vitro Research Use Only. Not for human or veterinary consumption. Licensed Peptides United States Supplied strictly for laboratory research use only. Not intended for human consumption, veterinary use, therapeutic applications, or diagnostic use. No dosing instructions are provided. Midshire Labs United Kingdom All Midshire Labs products are sold strictly for research purposes only. They are not intended for human consumption, medical, veterinary, or diagnostic use. Nationwide Peptides United States For Research Use Only. Products are not intended for human or animal consumption, ingestion, injection, or any form of administration. Next Gen Peptides Australia Not for human consumption. Novacell Peptides Estonia All products of NCBL Sciences OÜ / NovaCell Peptides are intended exclusively for laboratory-based in-vitro research. Not for human or veterinary use, not a medicinal product, food or cosmetic. Nupex United Kingdom Products sold on nupex.co.uk are for research purposes only and are not for human or veterinary use. Particle Peptides Slovakia Goods offered by the Company in the E-shop for purposes of scientific research and development (in vitro). Peak Lab Peptides United States All products on this site are for research and development use only. Products are not for human consumption of any kind. Pept Australia Products sold by Pept are intended for laboratory research purposes only and are not approved for human consumption. Peptides Lab UK United Kingdom Strictly intended for laboratory research use only. Not for human or veterinary consumption. PeptidesUK United Kingdom For research use only. Prism Labs United States All products sold by Prism Labs are intended strictly for in-vitro research, laboratory experimentation, and educational purposes. Products are not intended for human or veterinary use. Protide Health United States All products are supplied for laboratory research only and are not for human or animal consumption, medical use, veterinary use, or any therapeutic, diagnostic, or clinical purpose. Pulse Peptides Cyprus Products are not intended for administration to humans or animals and are not presented as having any medical, diagnostic, therapeutic, or clinical purpose. Pure Peptides UK United Kingdom All products are for research use only. Research Peptide United Kingdom Supplied strictly for research and laboratory use only and not for human or veterinary consumption. Research Peptides Europe Ireland Lyophilised peptides are for research / laboratory use only — not for human use. Sigma Compounds United States Products are for research and development purposes only and are not for human consumption. Stratford Peptides United Kingdom Products sold are for research purposes only and are not for human or veterinary use. Synapse Peptides Australia Australia All products are supplied strictly for research purposes only and are not intended for human or veterinary use. The Peptide Company United Kingdom Supplied strictly for laboratory research purposes only. Not intended for human consumption, medical use or self-administration. ThePeptideCode United Kingdom All products on this website are supplied strictly as research materials for laboratory and research use only — not for human or veterinary use. Tide Labs United Kingdom For laboratory research use only. Not for human or veterinary use. UK Peptides United Kingdom All products are sold exclusively for in-vitro research. They are not for human or veterinary use. Xeno Peptides United States All products are for laboratory and research use only — not for human consumption or clinical application. XL Peptides United Kingdom All products are exclusively sold for research purposes. They are not intended for human use, therapeutic, diagnostic, or clinical application.