Description
OVERVIEWProduct overview
GHK is a naturally occurring tripeptide found in human plasma that binds copper(II) with high affinity. The copper complex, GHK-Cu, is the form used in research.
Published work associates the complex with collagen and glycosaminoglycan synthesis, matrix metalloproteinase regulation and gene expression changes in dermal fibroblast cultures.
Plasma levels of GHK are reported to fall with age, which is part of why the peptide features so heavily in skin and matrix literature.
SUPPLY IN IRELANDGHK-Cu Ireland — supplied to research laboratories
Research groups across Ireland buy GHK-Cu from Kensington Laboratories as a lyophilised GHK-Cu peptide, released only against a batch-matched certificate of analysis. Every vial of high purity GHK-Cu is verified by HPLC and LC-MS before it leaves the facility, so laboratories ordering GHK-Cu in Ireland receive material with documented purity and identity.
Laboratory GHK-Cu is packed for controlled storage and sent by tracked delivery in 3–5 days to Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and the rest of Ireland. Delivery costs €9.90 per order. Teams planning GHKCu research can review the specifications, certificate of analysis and reference list on this page before ordering.
Institutions searching for GHK-Cu peptide suppliers in Ireland typically compare purity, batch documentation and delivery times. Each of those is published here: a 99% HPLC purity specification, a certificate matched to the batch code on your vial, and tracked delivery in 3–5 days.
GHK-Cu is supplied strictly for laboratory research use only. It is not a medicine and is not for human or veterinary consumption.
SPECIFICATIONSProduct specifications
- Purity: ≥ 99% (HPLC)
- Appearance: White lyophilised powder
- Quantity: 50 mg or 100 mg per vial
- CAS number: 49557-75-7
- Sequence: Gly-His-Lys (copper(II) complex)
- Peptide class: Copper-binding tripeptide complex
- Also known as: Copper tripeptide-1, glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine copper complex
- Solubility: Soluble in bacteriostatic or sterile water
- Storage temperature: Store at 2–8°C; long-term −20°C, protected from light
- Shelf life: 24 months lyophilised; 30 days reconstituted at 2–8°C
- Manufacturing standard: ISO 9001 facility, GMP-aligned solid-phase synthesis
- Batch information: Batch number and expiry printed on every vial label
RESEARCHResearch overview
The following summary is provided for educational and scientific context only. It describes what has been observed in published laboratory and animal studies and does not represent established clinical outcomes, medical advice or a claim of efficacy in humans.
Background
GHK is a naturally occurring tripeptide found in human plasma that binds copper(II) with high affinity. The copper complex, GHK-Cu, is the form used in research.
Published work associates the complex with collagen and glycosaminoglycan synthesis, matrix metalloproteinase regulation and gene expression changes in dermal fibroblast cultures.
Plasma levels of GHK are reported to fall with age, which is part of why the peptide features so heavily in skin and matrix literature.
Current research areas
Published investigation clusters around a small number of biological themes. Each remains experimental and none has been established as a therapeutic effect in humans.
- Collagen and glycosaminoglycan synthesis in fibroblast culture
- Matrix metalloproteinase and TIMP regulation
- Wound-model and dermal repair endpoints
- Copper transport and redox chemistry
- Gene expression profiling in skin models
Scientific context and proposed mechanisms
The peptide’s affinity for copper(II) allows it to act as a carrier, and copper is a cofactor for enzymes including lysyl oxidase that are directly involved in collagen cross-linking.
Transcriptomic studies have reported broad changes in gene expression in fibroblast cultures exposed to the complex, though the interpretation of those datasets remains debated.
Interpreting the evidence
Most published work in this area uses cell culture or rodent models with small group sizes and short observation windows. Independent replication varies considerably between compounds, and results are sensitive to species, route, dose and endpoint.
There is no regulatory-approved human protocol for this compound. Any laboratory protocol should be defined by the model under study, institutional ethical approval, appropriate controls and predefined endpoints.
References
CERTIFICATE OF ANALYSISIndependent batch testing
Every released batch is independently tested. Match the batch number on the vial to the certificate published online.
- Batch number
- KL-GHKCU-2408A
- Testing laboratory
- Colmaric Analyticals
- Date tested
- 21 July 2026
- Reported purity
- 99.68%
- Method
- RP-HPLC with UV detection at 214 nm, confirmed by LC-MS
