Peptide reference
GHK-Cu
Copper Tripeptide-1 ·Glycyl-L-Histidyl-L-Lysine Copper Complex ·GHK ·Cu-GHK
What cited sources report about GHK-Cu
GHK-Cu is the copper(II) complex of the endogenous tripeptide glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine (GHK), which was originally isolated from human plasma. It is the active substance in cosmetic formulations sold under the INCI name “Copper Tripeptide-1.” The peptide-copper complex is currently slated for FDA Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee (PCAC) review at a meeting in February 2027 (exact date pending). As of the cited literature, GHK-Cu has no FDA-approved drug indication and no marketing authorization as a therapeutic in any major jurisdiction. The summaries below report what individual cited sources state; this page does not assert claims beyond what those sources report.
Hu et al. (2025) — Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces
Researchers at Wuhan University of Technology adsorbed GHK-Cu onto hydroxyapatite microspheres to produce an injectable filler (GHK-Cu@CMHA) and characterized release kinetics over seven days. In LPS-induced inflammation models in vitro and in mice, the authors reported reductions in inflammatory factors, reduced ROS levels, and increased superoxide dismutase activity in treated samples relative to controls. The work focused on the engineered material rather than free GHK-Cu pharmacology.
In the model of LPS-induced inflammation model in vivo and in vitro, GHK-Cu@CMHA gel reduced levels of inflammatory factors and Reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels decreased, while superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was enhanced.
Greco et al. (2025) — Bioconjugate Chemistry
A study from the University of Catania and the Italian National Council of Research synthesized GHK-hyaluronan conjugates at varying loadings and characterized their copper-binding behaviour and effects in in-vitro osteogenic and angiogenic assays. The authors associated the constructs with expression and release of BDNF, VEGF, and BMP-2 and discussed the role of copper chaperones CCS and Atox1 in mediating the observed biology.
In recent years, hyaluronic acid (HA) and the natural tripeptide glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine (GHK), especially its copper(II) complex (GHK-Cu), individually have been shown to exert helpful properties for bone protection and regeneration.
Min, Sarlus, and Harris (2024) — Metallomics
An in-vitro study at the Karolinska Institutet’s Center for Molecular Medicine examined GHK in CNS cell-culture systems exposed to copper and zinc. The authors reported that GHK reduced copper redox activity, prevented copper- and zinc-induced bovine serum albumin aggregation, and attenuated paraquat-related toxicity in the presence of copper. They framed GHK as a candidate cytoprotective compound warranting further investigation in neurodegenerative-disease research.
Herein we demonstrate that the endogenous copper-binding tripeptide glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine (GHK) has the ability to bind to and reduce copper redox activity and to prevent copper- and zinc-induced cell death in vitro.
PubChem CID 73587 — National Center for Biotechnology Information
The PubChem compound record for glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine (GHK) catalogues the Gly-His-Lys tripeptide and aggregates synonym sets and chemical literature; the copper-complex form (GHK-Cu / Copper Tripeptide-1) is referenced in the same record family.
Coverage notes
GHK-Cu is widely sold as a cosmetic ingredient (“Copper Tripeptide-1”) regulated under cosmetic — not drug — frameworks; the cited literature therefore predominantly addresses in-vitro and topical-cosmetic-adjacent biology, with limited large blinded clinical efficacy trials of injectable GHK-Cu indexed on ClinicalTrials.gov as of the last_updated date. No FDA-approved drug indication exists. This page will be updated when the February 2027 PCAC briefing materials are released.