Made in USA · ≥99% HPLC
Copper Tripeptide
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GHK-Cu 50mg & 100mg
Copper Tripeptide-1Prezatide CopperGly-His-Lys · Cu²⁺
A synthetic copper-bound tripeptide (Gly-His-Lys coordinated with Cu²⁺), supplied as a sterile lyophilized blue powder for in-vitro laboratory study.
Price range: $39.95 through $59.95
In stock
For laboratory and research use only. Not for human consumption.
This product is not a drug, food or cosmetic. It is sold exclusively to qualified researchers and licensed laboratories.
Tested by Freedom Diagnostics TestingHPLC purity + LC-MS identityLot-matched COA on-site
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Verified COA
Batch-tested & posted · Freedom Diagnostics
Purity (HPLC-UV)99.96%
Identity (LC-MS)Confirmed
Net content113.17 mg
ReportedMay 31, 2026
US-synthesizedMade & lab-released in the United States
Independent COAThird-party Certificate of Analysis per lot
HPLC + LC-MSPurity by HPLC, identity by mass spectrometry
Same-day dispatchOrders before 2 PM CT ship the same business day
What is GHK-Cu?
GHK-Cu is a naturally occurring copper-binding tripeptide — glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine (Gly-His-Lys) complexed with a copper(II) ion. First isolated from human plasma, the tripeptide binds Cu²⁺ with high affinity and acts as a copper carrier, delivering the metal into cells in a redox-controlled form. The copper coordination gives the complex its characteristic deep-blue color. GHK-Cu is not an FDA-approved drug.
Research areas where laboratories buy GHK-Cu for in vitro work include collagen, decorin and matrix-metalloproteinase gene expression in dermal fibroblast cultures, peptide–metal coordination chemistry and copper-binding affinity, antioxidant-pathway profiling such as superoxide-dismutase induction, and comparative studies of GHK-Cu against the free GHK tripeptide. The material supplied here is research-grade for in vitro laboratory study only.
Every lot, independently verified
Independently third-party tested and matched to the lot ID printed on your vial. Values below are from the latest released lot.
99.96%
HPLC-UV Purity
Passed full QC panel
Independent third-party lab (Freedom Diagnostics Testing)
View COA (PDF)
Latest batch · tested 31 May 2026 · Freedom Diagnostics (USA)
Lot details
ProductGHK-Cu 100 mg
LotClear Cap / Bronze Crimp
AppearanceBlue lyophilized powder
Accession #2605290222
Received29 May 2026
Reported31 May 2026
Full QC panel · third-party lab7 assays
Purity (HPLC-UV)99.96% ✓
Identity (LC-MS)GHK-Cu ✓
HPLC conformity (2×)Confirmed ✓
Net content113.17 mg ✓
Heavy metals (ICP-MS)Not Detected ✓
SterilityNo Growth ✓
Endotoxin (USP <85>)Within limits ✓
Every lot is released against Koi's full QC panel — HPLC purity, LC-MS identity, net content, heavy metals, sterility, and endotoxin — by an independent third-party laboratory (Freedom Diagnostics Testing). Values shown are from the latest released lot (Clear Cap / Bronze Crimp, reported 31 May 2026) and vary batch to batch. The lot-specific certificate is published in our public COA library and matched to the lot ID printed on the vial.
Browse full COA library →
Compound information
Chemical & structural reference data — specifications, molecular profile and handling.
Product Specifications
CompoundGHK-Cu (copper-bound tripeptide)
Vial size100 mg
Purity≥99% by HPLC
Identity confirmationMass spectrometry
FormBlue lyophilized powder
Appearance in solutionBlue solution
ManufacturingSynthesized and lyophilized in the United States
Quality testingIndependent third-party laboratory release (Freedom Diagnostics Testing)
Molecular Profile
SequenceGly-His-Lys · Cu²⁺
TypeCopper-bound tripeptide
Molecular formulaC14H22CuN6O4
Molecular weight401.91 g/mol (complex)
CAS number89030-95-5
PubChem CID73587
Free GHK340.38 g/mol · CAS 49557-75-7
Storage & Handling
AppearanceBlue lyophilized powder
SolubilityAcidic buffer → dilute (slightly acidic pH)
Storage · powder−20 °C, desiccated, dark
In solutionSlightly acidic; refrigerate at 2–8 °C
GHK-Cu Mechanism of Action
- Chelates Cu²⁺ in a square-pyramidal coordination geometry, with labile axial positions available for ternary-complex formation.
- Shuttles copper into cells through receptor-mediated and passive pathways, stabilizing copper in a redox-controlled form.
- Modulates expression of collagen, decorin, elastin and matrix-metalloproteinase genes in dermal fibroblast cultures.
- Engages antioxidant-response networks, including superoxide dismutase and proteasome-associated gene expression.
- Active at picomolar–nanomolar concentrations on collagen synthesis in fibroblast cultures.
- Releases copper to apo-enzymes and copper-dependent transcription factors — a ‘carrier-peptide’ role in controlled-stoichiometry delivery.
GHK-Cu Research Applications
- Collagen, decorin and matrix-metalloproteinase gene expression in dermal fibroblast cultures.
- Comparative analysis of GHK-Cu vs the free GHK tripeptide, with and without exogenous copper.
- Peptide–metal coordination chemistry and copper-binding affinity under defined buffer / pH conditions.
- Antioxidant-pathway profiling, including SOD induction and proteasome-associated gene expression.
- Dermal fibroblast proliferation, keratinocyte signaling, and scratch (cell-migration) assays.
- Stability and structure–activity studies of the GHK-Cu complex under defined storage and pH.
Why Buy GHK-Cu from Koi Peptides?
- Every batch of Koi GHK-Cu is synthesized and lyophilized in the United States, then released against independent third-party laboratory (Freedom Diagnostics Testing) testing.
- Each lot is tested by HPLC for purity, LC-MS for identity confirmation, and screened for endotoxin before release.
- The lot ID is printed on every vial and ties back to a public COA library, so researchers can verify documentation before they buy and after the vial arrives.
- Orders placed before 2 PM CT ship the same business day, and shipping is free on orders over $200.
References
The laboratory and preclinical research behind GHK-Cu — cited for scientific context.
Nature New Biology
Tripeptide in human serum that prolongs survival of liver cells
Nature
Growth-modulating plasma tripeptide facilitates copper uptake into cells
J. Biological Inorganic Chemistry
Coordination chemistry and redox conversion of copper complexes
View all 3 references +
- Pickart, L., & Thaler, M. M. (1973). Tripeptide in human serum that prolongs survival of normal liver cells. Nature New Biology, 243(124), 85–87. doi.org/10.1038/newbio243085a0
- Pickart, L., et al. (1980). Growth-modulating plasma tripeptide may function by facilitating copper uptake into cells. Nature, 288(5792), 715–717. doi.org/10.1038/288715a0
- Hureau, C., et al. (2009). Coordination chemistry and redox conversion of copper complexes. J. Biological Inorganic Chemistry, 14(7), 995–1000. doi.org/10.1007/s00775-009-0570-0
Regulatory Status
Regulatory status — provided for research context.
Regulatory Status
Regulatory status — provided for research context.
FDA Status
GHK-Cu is not an FDA-approved drug. The research-grade material supplied by Koi Peptides is synthesized for laboratory research only; it is not formulated, packaged or labeled as a drug, food or cosmetic.
Disclaimer
For laboratory and research use only. Not for human consumption. This product is not a drug, food or cosmetic. It is sold exclusively to qualified researchers and licensed laboratories. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Frequently Asked Questions About GHK-Cu
What is GHK-Cu used for in research?+
GHK-Cu is the reference copper-binding tripeptide for studying copper-carrier biology and extracellular-matrix signaling in vitro. Laboratories use it to characterize collagen, decorin and matrix-metalloproteinase gene expression in dermal fibroblast cultures, copper-binding affinity and peptide–metal coordination chemistry, antioxidant-pathway induction such as superoxide dismutase, and comparative activity against the free GHK tripeptide.
What purity is Koi's GHK-Cu?+
≥99% pure by HPLC-UV — the latest released lot tested 99.96%, identity confirmed by LC-MS, with a measured net content of 113.17 mg in a 100 mg vial. Every lot is released against a full QC panel; the lot-specific COA is published in our public COA library and matched to the lot number printed on the vial.
Why is GHK-Cu blue?+
The blue color arises from d-d electronic transitions of the Cu²⁺ ion held in the GHK coordination geometry. It is a normal property of the complex and a built-in visual integrity check — a faded or pale cake indicates loss of copper coordination, in which case the vial should be discarded.
How do I prepare a GHK-Cu solution?+
GHK-Cu has limited solubility in neutral water alone. A common laboratory practice is to dissolve the powder first in a small volume of dilute acetic acid (~0.6%), then dilute with sterile water or buffer to the working concentration. The complex is most stable at slightly acidic pH.
What is the difference between GHK and GHK-Cu?+
GHK is the free tripeptide (Gly-His-Lys, 340.38 g/mol). GHK-Cu is the same tripeptide bound to a copper(II) ion (401.91 g/mol for the 1:1 complex). Most published GHK-Cu research uses the copper-bound form, since the copper coordination drives much of the studied activity.
What are the CAS numbers for GHK-Cu?+
The CAS number for the GHK-Cu complex is 89030-95-5; the free GHK tripeptide is 49557-75-7. The PubChem CID for GHK-Cu is 73587.
Does GHK-Cu come with a Certificate of Analysis?+
Yes. The lot-specific Certificate of Analysis covering HPLC purity, LC-MS identity, net content, heavy metals, sterility and endotoxin is published in our public COA library and matched to the lot ID printed on the vial.
Is GHK-Cu for human use?+
No. GHK-Cu is for laboratory and research use only and is not for human consumption. It is sold exclusively to qualified researchers and licensed laboratories.
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