- Also known as
- GHK Cu · copper peptide · copper tripeptide-1 · glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine copper(II)
- Class
- Copper-binding tripeptide (Gly-His-Lys copper complex)
- Form
- Lyophilised powder in 50 mg and 100 mg vials
- Sizes
- 50 mg · 100 mg
- Storage, dry
- −20 °C, dry and dark
- Storage, mixed
- 2–8 °C, use within 28 days of mixing (as generally reported for reconstituted peptides)
- BAC water per size
- 50 mg: 5 mL · 100 mg: 5 mL
What is GHK-Cu?
Suppliers and the literature both list GHK-Cu as a copper-binding tripeptide (Gly-His-Lys copper complex). Published work on it is in rat, human, mouse and cell culture. The name covers the same material written several ways in the literature, including GHK Cu, copper peptide and copper tripeptide-1. Its sequence is recorded as Gly-His-Lys (GHK) complexed with a copper(II) ion. One of the 8 studies listed below is a controlled trial in people. Borealis Peptides supplies it as lyophilised powder in 50 mg and 100 mg vials for in-vitro laboratory research. It is not authorized as a medicine and is not for use in any living subject.
What the research shows
| Study | Model | Dose used | Duration | Finding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miller TR et al.2006 · Arch Facial Plast Surg · PMID 16847171 | Human, randomised controlled trial (n=13 completed), skin after CO2 laser resurfacing | Topical skin care products with or without GHK-Cu; concentration not stated in the abstract | 12 weeks | Computer analysis and blinded evaluators found no significant difference between groups in erythema, wrinkles or overall skin quality. On the patient questionnaire, rated improvement in overall skin quality was higher in the GHK-Cu group (P = .04). |
| Li H et al.2015 · Pharm Res · PMID 25690343 | Human skin in vitro, cell culture and pig (porcine) model; microneedle delivery | Not stated in the abstract | 9 hours (skin permeation test) | After microneedle pre-treatment, 134 ± 12 nanomoles of peptide and 705 ± 84 nanomoles of copper passed through human skin in 9 h, against almost none through intact skin. No obvious signs of skin irritation were observed. |
| Deng M et al.2023 · J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle · PMID 36905132 | Mouse (C57BL/6), cigarette-smoke muscle dysfunction model; C2C12 muscle cells; plasma GHK measured in people with COPD (n=9) and healthy controls (n=11) | 0.2 and 2 mg/kg (route not stated in the abstract) | Not stated in the abstract | GHK-Cu reduced smoke-induced loss of muscle mass and improved grip strength (175.5 g untreated vs 257.6 g and 339.1 g). Plasma GHK was lower in the COPD group than in controls (70.27 vs 133.0 ng/mL). |
| Zhang Q et al.2023 · Biomed Pharmacother · PMID 37257226 | Mouse, ovalbumin-induced asthma model; airway epithelial cells; plasma GHK measured in asthma patients | Not stated in the abstract | Not stated in the abstract | GHK-Cu reduced peribronchial collagen deposition, airway mucus secretion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition, linked to lower TGF-β1 through SIRT1. Plasma GHK was lower in asthma patients than in age-matched controls. |
| Bian Y et al.2024 · Redox Biol · PMID 38879894 | Mouse, crystalline silica (silicosis) model; RAW264.7 macrophage cells | Not stated in the abstract | Not stated in the abstract | GHK-Cu bound peroxiredoxin 6 and reduced lung inflammation and fibrosis in silicosis mice without significant systemic toxicity, partly by limiting oxidative stress in alveolar macrophages. |
| Wang X et al.2017 · Wound Repair Regen · PMID 28370978 | Mouse, scald burn model; human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) | GHK-Cu in liposomes; amount not stated in the abstract | Wound healing time 14 days post injury in the liposome group | GHK-Cu liposomes raised HUVEC proliferation by 33.1% and gave better angiogenesis in burned skin than free GHK-Cu, with wound healing time shortened to 14 days. |
| Synytsya A et al.2020 · Int J Biol Macromol · PMID 33031852 | Rat, experimental cutting wound model (tripeptide GHK in hydrogels; copper not stated in the abstract) | Not stated in the abstract | Not stated in the abstract | GHK in pectin or flaxseed gum hydrogels gave a significantly higher healing degree and shorter healing time than untreated controls or GHK in aqueous solution. Complete histological healing was seen only with the flaxseed gum hydrogel. |
| Pollard JD et al.2005 · Arch Facial Plast Surg · PMID 15655171 | Cell culture (normal and irradiated human dermal fibroblasts) | 1 × 10⁻⁹ mol/L | Not stated in the abstract | GHK-Cu shortened the population-doubling time of normal and irradiated fibroblasts. Treated irradiated fibroblasts produced significantly more basic FGF and VEGF than untreated controls early after exposure. |
What these studies don't show: There are controlled trials, though they answer narrow questions. Who was enrolled, what was measured and for how long all constrain what the results mean. Results hold for the setting studied and no further. Purity data confirms what is in the vial and says nothing about whether a compound works.
Every study links to its PubMed record. See all GHK-Cu studies in the research library →
GHK-Cu price in Canada: 50mg and 100mg vials
Buy GHK-Cu in Canada in 2 vial sizes and a starter kit. Prices are in Canadian dollars, you pay by Interac e-Transfer or bank transfer, and orders are shipped from Canadian stock.
| Size | Price | Per mg |
|---|---|---|
| 50 mg | $43.50 | $0.87/mg |
| 100 mg | $62.00 | $0.62/mg |
Starter kit
Is GHK-Cu available in Canada?
GHK-Cu does not appear in the Drug Product Database as an authorized product. It has had no safety, efficacy or quality review from Health Canada. Borealis Peptides holds it for in-vitro research; it is not supplied for use in any living subject. Read more →
Side effects reported in studies
Absence of a reported effect in a small study is not evidence of safety. Each statement is tied to the study that reported it. None of the cited abstracts states a tolerability finding for GHK-Cu. Read more →
Doses used in studies
GHK-Cu FAQ
What is GHK-Cu?
GHK-Cu is a copper-binding tripeptide (Gly-His-Lys copper complex). The published work on it is in rat, human, mouse and cell culture. Borealis Peptides supplies it as lyophilised powder in 50 mg and 100 mg vials for in-vitro laboratory research. It is not authorized as a medicine and is not for use in any living subject. Each study on this page carries its model and the outcome its authors recorded.
Where can I buy GHK-Cu in Canada?
Borealis Peptides ships GHK-Cu from Canadian stock to research and business addresses in Canada. It is held in 50 mg and 100 mg vials. Every batch is tested by HPLC and the certificate names the batch in your vial. Orders are accepted for laboratory research only.
Is GHK-Cu legal in Canada?
GHK-Cu does not appear in the Drug Product Database as an authorized product. It has had no safety, efficacy or quality review from Health Canada. Borealis Peptides holds it for in-vitro research; it is not supplied for use in any living subject. Health Canada has said that "Research Use Only" labelling does not make a product legal to use in a person, so we treat it as a description of what the material is supplied for rather than a permission. Lawful use in your own setting is yours to establish.
How much GHK-Cu should I use?
We do not answer dosing questions. GHK-Cu is not supplied for use in a person or an animal, so there is no dose to describe. What this page carries is the amount each cited study used and the model it used it in, reproduced as the authors published it.
What human evidence is there for GHK-Cu?
Of the 8 studies cited, one is a controlled trial in people and the rest are animal or cell work. Each row names its model, the amount used and what the authors reported, so the weight of each study can be judged directly rather than through a summary.
How long does GHK-Cu keep?
Unopened, keep it at −20 °C in the dark. Solutions are held at 2–8 °C. Ambient transit does not harm the dry powder, which should be refrigerated once received. Keeping it dark and at a steady temperature matters more than how fast it arrived.
How is the purity of GHK-Cu confirmed?
Every batch is tested by HPLC before it is sold, and the certificate refers to the batch in your vial rather than to the product in general. Keeping that batch number with your records is what makes an observation reproducible later. Certificates are available on request.
How does GHK-Cu compare with GLOW blend and KLOW?
Each has its own published record, and comparing them is a matter of reading both. GLOW blend and KLOW have 8 cited studies and 8 cited studies on their page against 8 here. The useful comparison is between the two study tables and the models behind them.
Why is GHK-Cu named in a Health Canada advisory?
Because it was among the peptides seized from sellers offering unauthorized injectable products online. The advisory concerns material sold for people to inject without authorization. Borealis Peptides supplies research material for laboratory use and sells nothing for injection or for any use in a person, which is the line that advisory draws.







