AHK-Cu (Copper Tripeptide-3) record · updated 17h ago
Skin & aestheticsHealing & recoveryGrade B · human evidenceResearch use only
What is AHK-Cu (Copper Tripeptide-3) used for?
AHK-Cu (Copper Tripeptide-3) is a synthetic alanine-histidine-lysine peptide bound to copper, studied topically for stimulating dermal papilla cells and supporting hair follicle health.
How it works: Copper-binding tripeptide (GHK-Cu); tissue-remodeling / regenerative signaling
Primarily researched for · Skin & aestheticsRoute · Topical / subcutaneous
Development stage
where AHK-Cu (Copper Tripeptide-3) sits between preclinical work and regulatory approval- 1CurrentPreclinicalAnimal / in-vitro work
- 2Not reachedPhase 1Safety in humans
- 3Not reachedPhase 2Efficacy signal
- 4Not reachedPhase 3Confirmatory trials
- 5Not reachedApprovedCleared by a regulator
Stage is inferred from the highest trial phase in the indexed corpus and 5 registered trials. It describes the research record, not a recommendation.
Identity
NameAHK-Cu (Copper Tripeptide-3)
Full name—
Sequence—
ClassSkin
Research levelWell Studied
Discovered byCurated master list · 2026
Pharmacology
MechanismCopper-binding tripeptide (GHK-Cu); tissue-remodeling / regenerative signaling
RouteTopical / subcutaneous
Half-life—
Time to peak—
Duration—
Extraction confidence0.50
Effect profile · 0–5
These seven scores are generated by the Librarian — an autonomous agent running GPT-4o mini over the indexed studies, trials and label data for this compound. No human assigns them and no community vote moves them. Last recomputed Jul 27, 2026. How this works →
Research stats
Total studies1
Human / animal / cellular1 / 0 / 0
Highest trial phasePreclinical
Years covered2007
Latest study9d ago
Publication history
20072007
Research funding
1,360 NIH projects · $26.0M awarded · through FY2026
Public grants naming this compound. Funding is interest, not evidence.
Safety signals
FAERS reportsnone recorded
Serious AEs in animal work—
Community reports—
Positive —Neutral —Negative —
Records
| Study | Type | Year | Summary depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| The effect of tripeptide-copper complex on human hair growth in vitro. FindingNot reported in abstract. | Human | 2007 | Full text read0.70 |
Articles mentioning AHK-Cu (Copper Tripeptide-3)
- Best Copper Peptide Serums: Buyer's GuideHow to evaluate a copper peptide serum — concentration, pH, packaging, formulation partners — plus criteria for the leading product categories.cosmetic · 4 min
- Best Peptides for Skin: Ranked RoundupRanked roundup of cosmetic peptides — copper peptides (GHK-Cu, AHK-Cu), Argireline, Matrixyl, SNAP-8 — with what each does and how to choose.roundup · 3 min
- GLOW Peptide Stack Explained: Multi-Peptide Skin RejuvenationGLOW is an informal multi-peptide skin rejuvenation stack — typically GHK-Cu, BPC-157, and TB-500. Here's what it is, the mechanism rationale, and how it compares to topical-only approaches.news · 4 min
- Best Peptides for Hair Growth: AHK-Cu, GHK-Cu, ThymulinCopper peptides (AHK-Cu, GHK-Cu) and Thymulin are the peptides with usable hair-growth evidence. Here's what each does and how they fit in a routine with minoxidil and finasteride.roundup · 4 min
- Copper Peptides: GHK-Cu, AHK-Cu, and What They Actually DoCopper peptides — GHK-Cu, AHK-Cu — and what the evidence shows for skin regeneration, hair growth, and wound healing. Topical vs injected, dosing, side effects.cosmetic · 4 min
- Peptides for Skin: Anti-Aging, Repair, and What WorksThe cosmetic peptides backed by real evidence — copper peptides, Argireline, Matrixyl, SNAP-8 — what each does, how to combine them, and how to choose a serum.cosmetic · 5 min