GHK-Cu (Research Overview)
GHK is the tripeptide glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine, described in the early literature as a growth-modulating tripeptide from human plasma. It binds copper(II), and GHK-Cu is the name for that copper complex. Its average mass is about 340.4 Da before any copper is counted.
Mechanism of Action
Early work on the plasma tripeptide found that it co-isolated with roughly equimolar copper and that it readily forms complexes with copper(II) and enhances the uptake of the metal into cultured hepatoma cells; the authors suggested it may act as a copper transport factor. Later potentiometric and spectrophotometric work showed several copper(II) species in solution, with the lysine epsilon-amino group raising the stability constants, and equilibrium dialysis showed that the peptide could compete with albumin for copper(II) at pH 7.5.
In fibroblast cultures, GHK-Cu stimulated collagen synthesis from about 10^-12 to 10^-11 M, with a maximum at 10^-9 M, independent of any change in cell number. The authors pointed out that a GHK triplet lies in the alpha-2(I) chain of type I collagen and suggested the tripeptide might be released by proteases at a wound site. A later study in normal human fibroblasts found a concentration-dependent, biphasic increase in glycosaminoglycan synthesis, maximal at 10^-9 to 10^-8 M, with preferential effects on dermatan sulfate and cell-layer heparan sulfate and no effect on hyaluronic acid.
Research Areas
Skin biology is the main research area. A 2015 review summarises reported effects of GHK on collagen and glycosaminoglycan synthesis, on metalloproteinases and their inhibitors and on decorin. It also states that GHK is present in human plasma, saliva and urine and that its level declines with age, and that GHK can up- and downregulate at least 4,000 human genes. A 2018 review from the same research group revisits newer gene-expression data and proposes that GHK regulates multiple biochemical pathways, offered as an explanation for the range of effects reported. These are the reviewers' statements about the literature, and this page does not evaluate them. Several of the sources cited here share an author, so independent replication matters when reading them.
The literature describes GHK both as a copper-binding carrier (the 1980 and 1981 studies above) and as an agent with effects on matrix synthesis and gene expression (the later work). The matrix-synthesis studies cited here used the copper complex, so their results should not be assumed to apply to copper-free GHK.
Glow Blend contains GHK-Cu alongside BPC-157 and TB-500. The studies cited on this page examine GHK or GHK-Cu by itself and do not examine a combination with other peptides.
What the published literature reports
This section summarizes what published studies report. It describes study designs and results as the authors reported them. It does not describe any use of the research materials sold on this site, and it is not a recommendation, instruction or claim about any product.
Study models and endpoints
- Model Biochemical and cell-culture studies (copper binding, fibroblast collagen and glycosaminoglycan synthesis). [1][2][3][4]
- Model Two randomized human trials of topical copper tripeptide products (laser-resurfaced skin; venous stasis ulcers). [7][8]
- Model Narrative reviews. [5][6]
- Endpoint Collagen and glycosaminoglycan synthesis by cultured fibroblasts. [3][4]
- Endpoint Erythema, wrinkles and overall skin quality by computer analysis, blinded evaluators and patient questionnaire; ulcer size. [7][8]
Reported findings
- A 1980 study reported that a plasma tripeptide co-isolated with approximately equimolar copper and suggested that it may act as a copper-transport factor. [1]
- A 1981 physical-chemistry study reported that the tripeptide forms complexes with Cu(II) and competed with albumin for Cu(II) in equilibrium dialysis. [2]
- A study in fibroblast cultures reported that GHK-Cu stimulated collagen synthesis independently of any change in cell number. [3]
- A study in cultured normal human fibroblasts reported a biphasic, concentration-dependent increase in glycosaminoglycan synthesis with GHK-Cu and no effect on hyaluronic acid synthesis. [4]
- A randomized trial in patients who had CO2 laser resurfacing (13 completed) reported no statistically significant differences between groups for erythema resolution or for objectively assessed wrinkles and skin quality, and a higher patient-questionnaire rating of overall skin quality in the GHK-Cu group (P = .04). [7]
- A randomized, evaluator-blinded trial in 86 evaluable patients with venous stasis ulcers reported that silver sulfadiazine cream reduced ulcer size compared with a tripeptide-copper complex cream or placebo, and that there was no difference between the copper complex cream and placebo. [8]
- A review stated that GHK is present in human plasma, saliva and urine and declines with age. [5]
Evidence level and limitations
Evidence level: Mostly preclinical (cell and animal) literature. Any human reports cited are described below with their limitations.
- Most primary findings are from cell culture and biochemical experiments, some more than 30 years old. [1][2][3][4]
- The two randomized human trials cited used topical products in specific settings (post-laser skin; leg ulcers); one was small (13 completers) with mixed objective and subjective results, and the other reported no difference between the copper complex and placebo. [7][8]
- The two reviews summarize reported effects across many models; they are not primary trial data. [5][6]
Regulatory status
- FDA's compounding-substances page lists GHK-Cu for injectable routes among bulk drug substances it evaluated (since withdrawn by the nominators) and states that there are limited data in humans to inform safety-related considerations.
Sources checked on 16 October 2026: FDA, "Certain Bulk Drug Substances for Use in Compounding that May Present Significant Safety Risks" (page text). Regulatory status can change.
Not established
- Efficacy of GHK-Cu in humans is not established by the cited controlled data; objective measures did not differ between groups in the post-laser trial, and the ulcer trial reported no difference between the copper complex and placebo. [7][8]
- The randomized human trials identified in the PubMed search logged for this page tested topical products; a search can miss studies. [7][8]
Summaries of published literature, not claims about any product sold here. For laboratory research use only.
Specification summary
Glow Blend
Vial contents: GHK-Cu 50mg, BPC-157 10mg, TB-500 10mg (70mg total peptide content). Stated purity ≥99%. For laboratory research use only.
Related materials
Laboratory background
Education for people working with this material in the laboratory: guides on handling and analysis, definitions of terms, and arithmetic tools. It describes no use of the material.
Guides
References
- Pickart L, Freedman JH, Loker WJ, Peisach J, Perkins CM, Stenkamp RE, et al. Growth-modulating plasma tripeptide may function by facilitating copper uptake into cells. Nature. 1980;288(5792):715-7. PMID 7453802 · DOI
- Lau SJ, Sarkar B. The interaction of copper(II) and glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine, a growth-modulating tripeptide from plasma. Biochem J. 1981;199(3):649-56. PMID 7340824 · DOI
- 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 Lett. 1988;238(2):343-6. PMID 3169264 · DOI
- Wegrowski Y, Maquart FX, Borel JP. Stimulation of sulfated glycosaminoglycan synthesis by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+. Life Sci. 1992;51(13):1049-56. PMID 1522753 · DOI
- Pickart L, Vasquez-Soltero JM, Margolina A. GHK Peptide as a Natural Modulator of Multiple Cellular Pathways in Skin Regeneration. Biomed Res Int. 2015;2015:648108. PMID 26236730 · DOI
- Pickart L, Margolina A. Regenerative and Protective Actions of the GHK-Cu Peptide in the Light of the New Gene Data. Int J Mol Sci. 2018;19(7). PMID 29986520 · DOI
- Miller TR, Wagner JD, Baack BR, Eisbach KJ. Effects of topical copper tripeptide complex on CO2 laser-resurfaced skin. Arch Facial Plast Surg. 2006;8(4):252-9. PMID 16847171 · DOI
- Bishop JB, Phillips LG, Mustoe TA, VanderZee AJ, Wiersema L, Roach DE, et al. A prospective randomized evaluator-blinded trial of two potential wound healing agents for the treatment of venous stasis ulcers. J Vasc Surg. 1992;16(2):251-7. PMID 1495150 · DOI
Cited literature is provided for scientific context only and does not describe or endorse any use of these products.
For laboratory research use only. Not for human or veterinary use. Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.