GHK-Cu 100mg

GHK-Cu 100mg — Product Identity & Molecular Specification

GHK-Cu (glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine copper(II)) is a naturally occurring copper-chelating tripeptide first isolated from human plasma by Pickart and Thaler in 1973. Each vial supplied by AbsoluteBioLab contains 100 mg of GHK-Cu acetate salt in lyophilised form, manufactured under controlled laboratory conditions and released only after independent analytical verification. The compound is supplied as the copper(II) complex of the GHK tripeptide; the free tripeptide (GHK, without copper) is a structurally distinct compound with different analytical and biological properties.

Analytical Specification

Note: An endotoxin specification does not confer sterility. GHK-Cu 100mg is a non-sterile research reagent. Researchers requiring sterile conditions should apply appropriate filtration in accordance with their institutional SOPs.

Analytical Quality & Batch Documentation

Every batch of GHK-Cu 100mg released by AbsoluteBioLab is subject to a multi-stage analytical workflow before dispatch. Purity is determined by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) against a validated reference standard, with a release specification of ≥99.0%. Molecular identity is confirmed by electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), verifying the correct molecular ion [M+H]⁺ and the characteristic copper isotope pattern (⁶³Cu/⁶⁵Cu ratio ≈ 2.24) that distinguishes the intact copper complex from the free tripeptide. A batch-specific Certificate of Analysis (CoA) documenting lot number, HPLC purity, MS identity, endotoxin result, and storage conditions is available for each release via the CoA Portal.

The blue-green colouration of GHK-Cu powder is associated with Cu²⁺ chelation and is a useful visual indicator during receiving inspection. However, colour alone is not a substitute for analytical identity confirmation — ESI-MS is the definitive identity test. Researchers should record the lot number from the CoA against experimental data for full traceability.

Storage and Transport Conditions

Note: Reconstituted solution storage, solvent selection, working concentration, and pH guidance are not provided, consistent with AbsoluteBioLab’s Research Use Only supply policy. Researchers should refer to their institutional SOPs and the published literature for handling reconstituted copper peptide solutions.

Research Context: GHK-Cu in the Scientific Literature

GHK-Cu has accumulated one of the most extensive peer-reviewed research profiles of any synthetic tripeptide, spanning more than five decades of published investigation. The compound was first characterised as a plasma-borne tripeptide with hepatotropic activity; subsequent work established its role as a pleiotropic signalling molecule capable of modulating gene expression, extracellular matrix remodelling, and redox homeostasis across multiple tissue types.^[1]

Collagen Synthesis and Extracellular Matrix Remodelling

Early in vitro work by Maquart and colleagues demonstrated that GHK-Cu stimulates collagen synthesis in cultured fibroblasts and modulates the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), particularly MMP-2 and MMP-9, in a concentration-dependent manner.^[2] This dual activity — promoting new matrix deposition while regulating degradative enzyme activity — positions GHK-Cu as a research tool for studying extracellular matrix dynamics. Subsequent studies confirmed stimulation of fibronectin, laminin, and decorin synthesis, indicating broad effects on the structural scaffold of connective tissue.

Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Signalling

GHK-Cu has been reported to modulate the expression of antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase, and to attenuate NF-κB-mediated inflammatory signalling in multiple experimental models.^[3] A 2022 study using a cigarette smoke–induced pulmonary emphysema model demonstrated that GHK-Cu reduced oxidative stress markers and suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokine expression (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) via the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.^[4] A 2026 zebrafish larval model confirmed that GHK-Cu attenuated CuSO₄- and LPS-induced acute inflammation, reducing neutrophil and macrophage migration and suppressing JAK1/STAT3 pathway activation.^[5]

Gene Expression Modulation

Bioinformatic analyses of publicly available gene expression datasets have identified GHK-Cu as a modulator of a large number of human genes associated with tissue remodelling, neurological function, and metabolic regulation. Pickart et al. (2018) reported that GHK-Cu reset the gene expression profile of cultured human fibroblasts towards a pattern associated with younger, more regeneratively active cells, affecting genes involved in collagen synthesis, DNA repair, and mitochondrial function.^[1] These findings are consistent with GHK-Cu’s reported effects on the ubiquitin-proteasome system and its capacity to activate SPARC (secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine), a matricellular protein involved in tissue remodelling.

Wound Healing Models

A 2025 review of tripeptide research in wound healing and skin biology confirmed that GHK-Cu stimulates collagen synthesis, enhances tissue remodelling, and promotes angiogenesis in multiple in vitro and in vivo models, including full-thickness excisional wound models in rodents.^[6] The tripeptide has also been incorporated into hydrogel scaffolds and biomaterial matrices as a bioactive component in tissue engineering research, where its ability to promote cell migration and matrix deposition has been studied in controlled laboratory settings.

“GHK’s ability to improve tissue repair has been demonstrated for skin, lung connective tissue, boney tissue, liver, and stomach lining.”
— Pickart et al., International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2018 ^[1]

All findings cited above were obtained in controlled laboratory or preclinical settings. GHK-Cu 100mg supplied by AbsoluteBioLab is intended exclusively for in vitro and laboratory research use. It is not a medicinal product, has not been evaluated for safety or efficacy in humans, and is not intended for administration to humans or animals.

Physical Form & Laboratory Receiving

GHK-Cu 100mg is supplied as a lyophilised (freeze-dried) powder in a sealed glass vial with a rubber septum and aluminium crimp cap. The lyophilised form maximises long-term stability by removing residual moisture and minimising oxidative degradation of the Cu²⁺ chelate. The characteristic blue-green colour of the powder is associated with intact Cu²⁺ chelation and is a useful visual check during receiving inspection; however, colour is not a substitute for analytical identity confirmation by ESI-MS. Researchers should inspect each vial visually upon receipt and record the lot number from the CoA against experimental data for full traceability.

For guidance on receiving inspection procedures for research peptides, refer to the Research Product Receiving Inspection & Batch Acceptance Checklist.

Related Research Peptides

The following products are available in the Repair & Recovery catalogue and appear in the pre-clinical literature alongside GHK-Cu in studies of extracellular matrix remodelling, wound healing, and connective tissue biology. They are structurally unrelated compounds operating through distinct molecular mechanisms; any co-investigation should be designed with reference to the published evidence for each compound independently.

• BPC-157 10mg — pentadecapeptide fragment of Body Protection Compound; studied in tendon, ligament, and gastrointestinal repair models
• TB-500 10mg — synthetic heptapeptide Ac-LKKTETQ; investigated in actin dynamics, cell migration, and angiogenesis research
• KPV 10mg — C-terminal tripeptide of alpha-MSH; studied in intestinal inflammation and MC1R/MC3R-mediated anti-inflammatory signalling
• GHK-Cu 50mg — same compound at 50 mg nominal mass, suitable for smaller-scale or pilot studies

Regulatory and Compliance Status

GHK-Cu 100mg is supplied strictly for in vitro laboratory and research use only. This product is not a medicinal product, is not approved for human or veterinary use, and has not been evaluated by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) or any other regulatory authority for safety, efficacy, or quality as a therapeutic agent. It must not be administered to humans or animals. Purchase, possession, and use are subject to applicable UK and international regulations governing research chemicals. AbsoluteBioLab accepts no liability for misuse of this product outside its intended research application. For the full supply boundary, refer to the RUO Compliance Policy.

References

1. Pickart L, Vasquez-Soltero JM, Margolina A. Regenerative and Protective Actions of the GHK-Cu Peptide in the Light of the New Gene Data. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2018;19(7):1987. PMC6073405
2. Maquart FX, Pickart L, Laurent M, Gillery P, Monboisse JC, Borel JP. Stimulation of collagen synthesis in fibroblast cultures by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+. FEBS Letters. 1988;238(2):343–346. PMID 8387173
3. Pickart L, Margolina A. GHK Peptide as a Natural Modulator of Multiple Cellular Pathways in Skin Regeneration. BioMed Research International. 2015;2015:648108. PMC4508379
4. Zhang Q, Yan L, Lu J, Zhou X. Glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+ attenuates cigarette smoke-induced pulmonary emphysema and inflammation by reducing oxidative stress pathway. Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences. 2022;9:925700. doi:10.3389/fmolb.2022.925700
5. Hu J, Zhang C, Wang F. Glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+ (GHK-Cu) Attenuates CuSO4 or LPS induced-inflammation in Zebrafish larvae model. European Journal of Pharmacology. 2026. ScienceDirect
6. Adnan SB, et al. Exploring the Role of Tripeptides in Wound Healing and Skin Biology. Medical Science Monitor. 2025;22:4175. medsci.org/v22p4175

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