Peptides DB
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GHK-Cu record · updated 18h ago

Healing & recoverySkin & aestheticsGrade C · preclinicalResearch use only
All 28 studiesJump to the evidenceCompare
What is GHK-Cu used for?

Copper-binding tripeptide widely used in skin, hair, and wound-healing contexts, with systemic effects explored in research.

How it works: Copper-binding tripeptide (GHK-Cu); tissue-remodeling / regenerative signaling

Primarily researched for · Healing & recoveryRoute · Topical / subcutaneous

Development stage

where GHK-Cu sits between preclinical work and regulatory approval
  1. 1Current
    Preclinical
    Animal / in-vitro work
  2. 2Not reached
    Phase 1
    Safety in humans
  3. 3Not reached
    Phase 2
    Efficacy signal
  4. 4Not reached
    Phase 3
    Confirmatory trials
  5. 5Not reached
    Approved
    Cleared by a regulator

Stage is inferred from the highest trial phase in the indexed corpus and 110 registered trials. It describes the research record, not a recommendation.

Identity
NameGHK-Cu
Chain length—
Molecular weight400.9 Da
FormulaC14H21CuN6O4-
Structure typeSmall molecule
ClassHealing
Research levelPreclinical
Discovered byAdded before provenance tracking · 2025

Mass and formula from PubChem CID 139035031. No verified residue count for this compound.

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 over the indexed studies, trials and label data for this compound. No human assigns them and no community vote moves them. Last recomputed Sep 30, 2026. How this works →
Research stats
Total studies28
Human / animal / cellular0 / 9 / 6
Highest trial phasePreclinical
Years covered1980–2026
Latest study17d ago
Publication history
19802026
Research funding
8,740 NIH projects · $23.3M awarded · through FY2026
Public grants naming this compound. Funding is interest, not evidence.
Safety signals
FAERS reports12
Serious AEs in animal work—
Community reports—
Positive —Neutral —Negative —
Records

Study register

28 rows · newest 12 shownOpen in the library →
StudyTypeYearSummary depth
GHK-Cu as a Bioactive Metallopeptide and Drug-Delivery Cargo: Coordination Chemistry, Formulation Science, Therapeutic Evidence, and a Translational Roadmap.
FindingNot reported in abstract.
review2026Full text read0.80
A Systematic Review of the Mechanisms and Therapeutic Applications of GHK-Cu (Glycyl-L-Histidyl-L-Lysine-Copper Complex) in Topical Microneedle Delivery: A Case for Expanded Clinical Trials.
FindingNot reported in abstract.
review2026Full text read0.80
Growth-modulating plasma tripeptide may function by facilitating copper uptake into cells.
TakeawayNot reported in abstract.
—1980Title only0.10
The amyloid precursor protein of Alzheimer's disease in the reduction of copper(II) to copper(I).
TakeawayNot reported in abstract.
—1996Title only0.10
The Regenerative Potential of GHK-Cu in Aesthetic Medicine.
FindingNot reported in abstract.
review2026Full text read0.70
Defining biomaterial-driven design principles for bioabsorbable flow diverters: current state and perspectives.
FindingNot reported in abstract.
review2026Full text read0.70
A brain-targeted biomimetic iron-porphyrin covalent organic framework nanoplatform for Alzheimer's disease: synergistic intervention via antioxidant, Aβ-regulating and immunomodulatory effects.
FindingCopper-ion chelation rate of 41.78%.
In vitro2026Full text read0.70
Systemic Copper Chelation Reduces Collagen Deposition and Preserves Secretory Function in Irradiated Mouse Salivary Glands.
FindingNot reported in abstract.
Animal2026Full text read0.80
Asymmetric-interfacial nanofibrous membranes with diode-like exudate transport for nanozyme-catalyzed antibacterial wound healing.
Finding99.8% wound closure by day 12.
Animal2026Full text read0.80
Superconducting 2D cuprate with a single CuO(2) plane.
FindingApproximately 10% reduction in optimal superconducting transition temperature.
—2026Partial text0.50
Ultralong sheathed single-metal-atom chains synthesized under high pressure.
TakeawayNot reported in abstract.
—2026Title only0.10
Ultrasensitive low-density lipoprotein monitoring in early cardiovascular risk assessment via Cu-MOF-Apt/MoS₂ fluorescent nanosensor.
Findingultra-low detection limit (0.0789 ng/mL)
In vitro2026Full text read0.70

What people are saying

anecdotal · not evidence

Unverified first-hand accounts from public forums. These are not studies: nobody checked what was taken, whether it was what the label said, or what else was going on. They count for nothing in the evidence grade above and are shown because a reader searching GHK-Cu will meet them anyway, and meeting them next to a graded evidence base is better than meeting them alone.

Community collection has not run yet, so this is an empty shelf rather than a quiet one — nothing has been read, and no conclusion about how much GHK-Cu is discussed should be drawn from it.

Articles mentioning GHK-Cu