For research use only. PeptaBase is for informational and laboratory research reference only. No medical claims are made and nothing on this site is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
PeptaBase
✓500+ PubMed Citations✓Free To Use✓No Account Required
Back to Database
Cosmetic & Dermal

GHK-Cu Protocol

Dosing & Research

Last Updated: September 4, 2026

Chemical Identity
Amino Acid Sequence
Gly-His-Lys (Cu2+ chelate)
Molecular Formula
C14H22CuN6O4
Molecular Weight
403.93 g/mol
CAS Number
89030-95-5

Dermal remodeling, Hair-growth studies, Wound repair, Copper-dependent regenerative signaling

Evidence Level
Mixed Evidence
Species Studied
Human • Rat • In vitro
Half-Life
Topical Kinetics Undefined
Administration
• Subcutaneous • Topical
Frequency
Once Daily

How It Works

  • Dermal remodeling
  • Hair-growth studies
  • Wound repair
  • Copper-dependent regenerative signaling

Dosing Structure

Dose
1.7–2.0 mg daily
Frequency
Once Daily
Notes
Topical: Apply 0.1–2% concentration cream or serum to target area. Higher concentrations (1–2%) for active repair; lower (0.1–0.5%) for maintenance. Injection: 1–2mg per day via SubQ injection. Reconstitution: 50mg vial mixed with 3ml bacteriostatic water yields approximately 16.67mg/ml (inject 0.06–0.12ml daily for 1–2mg dose). 100mg vial mixed with 3ml bac yields approximately 33.3mg/ml (inject 0.03–0.06ml daily). Cycle: 2 months on, 1 month break. Break: 4-6 weeks.

Example Protocols

Dose: 1.7–2.0 mg daily
Frequency: Once Daily
Duration: 4-8 weeks
Off Period: Not listed
Calculate dosing →

Find Research Grade GHK-Cu

Recommended vendors for sourcing research-grade material. PeptaBase does not sell peptides directly.

Vendor One Research Labs

COA Verified

Third-party COA-verified research peptides with published batch testing.

Source Coming Soon

Vendor Two Sciences

Purity Tested

US-based research compound supplier with independent purity testing.

Source Coming Soon

Vendor Three Peptide Co.

Bulk research peptide sourcing with batch-level documentation.

Source Coming Soon
View all recommended vendors →

Protocol Notes

•
Topical: Apply 0.1–2% concentration cream or serum to target area.
•
Higher concentrations (1–2%) for active repair; lower (0.1–0.5%) for maintenance.
•
Injection: 1–2mg per day via SubQ injection.
•
Reconstitution: 50mg vial mixed with 3ml bacteriostatic water yields approximately 16.67mg/ml (inject 0.06–0.12ml daily for 1–2mg dose).
•
100mg vial mixed with 3ml bac yields approximately 33.3mg/ml (inject 0.03–0.06ml daily).
•
Cycle: 2 months on, 1 month break.
•
Break: 4-6 weeks.

What Is GHK-Cu?

GHK-Cu is a naturally occurring copper-binding tripeptide (glycine-histidine-lysine) found in human blood plasma, saliva, and urine. Its plasma levels decline from ~200 ng/mL at age 20 to ~80 ng/mL by age 60. It has been studied extensively for wound healing, collagen synthesis, anti-inflammatory activity, and more recently for its striking gene expression data showing upregulation of over 4,000 human genes associated with tissue repair.

Research Observations - Not Medical Claims
  • ▸Collagen synthesis: GHK-Cu stimulated collagen synthesis in human fibroblasts by approximately 70% in vitro compared to untreated controls (PMID: 18806259; Pickart et al.).
  • ▸Gene expression: Lunde & Goran (2014; PMID: 25484452) showed GHK-Cu upregulates 4,702 genes including those in pathways for tissue remodeling, anti-inflammatory signaling, and DNA repair - one of the broadest transcriptional signatures recorded for a small peptide.
  • ▸Wound healing: GHK-Cu-impregnated wound dressings reduced healing time vs. standard dressings in full-thickness skin wounds in pigs.
  • ▸Hair follicle: 2% GHK-Cu solution applied topically increased hair follicle size and hair density in a mouse model.
  • ▸Wrinkle reduction: A double-blind clinical study of a GHK-Cu cream showed 15–30% reduction in wrinkle depth and 9–11% increase in skin thickness after 12 weeks (Pickart, cosmetic dermatology literature).
  • ▸Anti-anxiety: GHK-Cu administered to rats showed anxiolytic effects comparable to diazepam in elevated plus maze models.

Evidence Summary

Mixed EvidenceResearch Only - Topical cosmetic formulations sold commercially; injectable form is research use only
Evidence StrengthModerate
PreliminaryModerateStrong
Curated Citations3
Largest Study (n)67
Most Recent Study2023
Species Studied
HumanRatIn vitro

Commonly Researched With

BPC-157
BPC-157 drives angiogenesis and local healing; GHK-Cu adds collagen synthesis and gene expression remodeling - commonly combined for wound and skin repair protocols.
TB-500
TB-500's actin regulation complements GHK-Cu's extracellular matrix remodeling for comprehensive tissue repair.
Epithalon
Both studied in longevity and skin aging contexts; gene overlap in DNA repair pathways.

Research & Studies

Loading citations…

Research Feedback

0 approved

For research discussion only. Community feedback is moderated and shown here as aggregated insights after approval.

Related Peptides

Melanotan I
Cosmetic & Dermal
Melanotan II
Cosmetic & Dermal