GHK-Cu
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≥99% purity verified by independent HPLC and mass spectrometry (MS) through Janoshik Analytical. Intended for laboratory research use only; not for human consumption, diagnosis, or treatment. View transparency report Compliance PDFs
Documentation & standards
- How to Read a Peptide Certificate of Analysis (COA)
- Batch Traceability: Lot Numbers, Records and Public Lookup
- Peptide Storage and Handling: Temperature, Light and Stability
Copper-binding tripeptide examined in extracellular matrix research.
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Batch transparency
- Batch / lot
- Released with your order
- Testing lab
- Janoshik Analytical
- Purity (HPLC)
- ≥99% target spec
- Identity (MS)
- Available on request
- Report issued
- Available on request
- Full PDF report
- By request
Every request returns a reference number and a live status page. See all published batch records →
For laboratory research use only — not for human or veterinary use.
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Intended strictly for research and laboratory use only. Not for human consumption.
About GHK-Cu
Third-party purity testing available upon request.
Research Classification
Storage Information
GHK-Cu Purity & COA Verification
For laboratory research use only. Not for human consumption, diagnosis, or treatment.
GHK-Cu COA and third-party testing
Every GHK-Cu batch is analysed by an independent laboratory before release. HPLC measures purity against a ≥99% standard, mass spectrometry confirms that the copper-bound tripeptide is what the vial contains, and the published panel records heavy-metals, endotoxin and sterility screening where applicable. The GHK-Cu certificate of analysis is tied to the batch number printed on the vial, so the result can be verified at source rather than taken from a summary claim.
Testing documentation is supplied for laboratory research use only and does not support human, veterinary, cosmetic, diagnostic or therapeutic use.
What is GHK-Cu?
GHK-Cu is a naturally occurring copper-binding tripeptide — the sequence glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine complexed with copper(II). It was originally isolated from human plasma and is characterised in the literature as a copper-transport peptide, with the histidine residue providing the coordination site for the metal ion.
Published laboratory work examines GHK-Cu primarily in skin and tissue-remodelling models — extracellular matrix turnover, collagen and glycosaminoglycan expression in fibroblast culture, and related gene-expression endpoints. These describe measurements recorded in research settings only; they do not establish an effect, benefit, cosmetic outcome or suitability for any person, and nothing here constitutes medical, dosing or therapeutic guidance.
Because copper peptides are colour-forming complexes whose identity depends on correct metal coordination, analytical documentation matters more here than for many peptides — which is why each GHK-Cu batch is released against a third-party certificate rather than an in-house figure.
GHK-Cu product specifications
| Compound | GHK-Cu — glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine copper(II) complex |
|---|---|
| Class | Copper-binding tripeptide (copper peptide) |
| Purity standard | ≥99% (HPLC, with identity confirmed by mass spectrometry) |
| Physical form | Lyophilised powder in a sealed glass vial |
| Available vial sizes | 50mg and 100mg |
| Storage | Refrigerated and protected from light; batch handling documentation included |
| Testing | Third-party COA covering identity, purity, heavy metals, endotoxins and sterility |
| Origin | Synthesised and shipped domestically (USA) |
| Intended use | Laboratory research use only — not for human or veterinary use |
GHK-Cu research questions
+What is GHK-Cu?
GHK-Cu is a naturally occurring copper-binding tripeptide — glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine complexed with copper(II). It was first isolated from human plasma and is described in the literature as a copper-transport peptide. Ares Research supplies it strictly as analytical research material for laboratory use, not for human or veterinary use.
+Does GHK-Cu come with a certificate of analysis (COA)?
Yes. Every GHK-Cu batch ships against a third-party certificate of analysis tied to the batch number printed on the vial. The COA records identity confirmation, HPLC purity, and the heavy-metals, endotoxin and sterility panels run for that batch. You can look up the document by batch number before or after ordering.
+How is GHK-Cu tested, and by whom?
Testing is performed by independent third-party analytical laboratories rather than in-house. HPLC quantifies purity against a ≥99% standard and mass spectrometry confirms molecular identity; the published panel also covers heavy metals, endotoxins and sterility where applicable. Summary statistics across batches are published on the transparency page.
+What purity standard does Ares GHK-Cu meet?
GHK-Cu is released against a ≥99% HPLC purity standard. Because copper peptides are colour-forming complexes, identity is confirmed by mass spectrometry alongside the purity assay so that the copper-bound tripeptide — not the uncomplexed peptide — is what the certificate documents.
+Is this third-party tested GHK-Cu, or in-house tested?
Third-party. Analysis is commissioned from outside laboratories so the result is not self-reported, and the resulting certificate is published against the batch rather than summarised in marketing copy. The batch lookup returns the document itself.
+What vial sizes and format is GHK-Cu supplied in?
GHK-Cu is supplied as a lyophilised powder in a sealed glass vial, in 50mg and 100mg sizes. A separate topical GHK-Cu solution is listed as its own distinct product for research models that call for a topical format.
+How should GHK-Cu be stored?
Sealed lyophilised vials are stored refrigerated and protected from light. Copper peptide complexes are light-sensitive, so amber or shielded storage is standard practice in the literature. Batch handling documentation ships with each order.
+How does shipping work, and where does it ship from?
GHK-Cu is synthesised and shipped domestically within the USA, with tracked carrier service and order status available online. Orders are released as laboratory research material only.
+Can GHK-Cu be used on or by people?
No. Ares Research sells GHK-Cu for laboratory research use only. It is not a drug, cosmetic or supplement, is not approved for human or veterinary use, and nothing on this page is medical, dosing, cosmetic or therapeutic guidance.
GHK-Cu — Compound Information & Scientific Literature
Reference data for laboratory personnel: molecular identity, storage and stability handling, our analytical testing panel, and peer-reviewed literature indexed on PubMed.
Molecular Profile
| Compound | GHK-Cu |
|---|---|
| Molecule type | Copper-binding tripeptide (Gly-His-Lys-Cu) |
| Class | Copper Peptide |
| Catalog category | Cosmetic |
| Physical format | Lyophilized vial |
Handling Reference
-20 °C, protected from light and moisture
24 months from date of manufacture in the sealed vial
2-8 °C (refrigerated), do not freeze after reconstitution
Stability studied out to approximately 28 days under continuous refrigeration
Analytical Testing Panel
Verified by Janoshik Analytical — full panel, every batch. Second independent lab confirmation is being added batch by batch.
Quantifies the main peak against related-substance peaks, so the stated purity percentage is measured rather than assumed.
Every GHK-Cu lot passes all 8 stages before it is released. Expand a stage to see the method and why we run it.
- Method on the COARP-HPLC (UV 214 nm)Why Ares runs it
Quantifies the main peak against related-substance peaks, so the stated purity percentage is measured rather than assumed.
- Method on the COAQuantitative HPLC mass/concentration assayWhy Ares runs it
Confirms the vial actually contains the labeled amount — purity alone says nothing about how much material is in the vial.
- Method on the COAMass Spectrometry (ESI-MS)Why Ares runs it
Confirms the measured molecular mass matches the declared compound — the check that catches a mislabeled or substituted vial.
- Method on the COAICP-MSWhy Ares runs it
Screens for elemental contaminants carried over from synthesis, reagents, or packaging.
- Method on the COAMembrane filtration, USP <71> methodologyWhy Ares runs it
Checks the finished lyophilized vial for microbial growth after fill and closure.
- Method on the COALAL assay (kinetic chromogenic)Why Ares runs it
Measures bacterial endotoxin load, a contamination marker that purity testing alone will not reveal.
- Method on the COAIndependent batch review against release specificationWhy Ares runs it
Ties the analytical numbers back to the paperwork — the lot you receive is the lot on the certificate.
- Method on the COALC-MS/MS targeted screenWhy Ares runs it
A contamination check most research suppliers never run, and the reason we run it on every batch regardless of compound.
PASS reflects the batch release standard every lot must meet before it ships. Per-lot results are published on that lot's Certificate of Analysis.
Peer-Reviewed References
Liposomes as Carriers of GHK-Cu Tripeptide for Cosmetic Application
Dymek M et al. · Pharmaceutics, 2023 · PMID 37896245
View sourceAn injectable hydroxyapatite microsphere filler loaded with GHK-Cu tripeptide for anti-Inflammatory and antioxidant
Hu D et al. · Colloids and surfaces. B, Biointerfaces, 2025 · PMID 40716276
View sourceAre We Ready to Measure Skin Permeation of Modern Antiaging GHK-Cu Tripeptide Encapsulated in Liposomes?
Ogórek K et al. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 2025 · PMID 39795193
View sourceThe human tripeptide GHK-Cu in prevention of oxidative stress and degenerative conditions of aging: implications for cognitive health
Pickart L et al. · Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity, 2012 · PMID 22666519
View sourceTripeptide-copper complex GHK-Cu (II) transiently improved healing outcome in a rat model of ACL reconstruction
Fu SC et al. · Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society, 2015 · PMID 25731775
View source
References are listed for literature-identification purposes only. Ares Research is not affiliated with the authors, journals, or institutions cited.
This material is supplied for laboratory and research use only. It is not for human or veterinary use, and it is not a drug, food, or cosmetic. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. No information on this page is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any condition.
Read the GHK-Cu research
GHK-Cu reconstitution and storage guide: vial sizes, diluent volumes, U-100 syringe math, and stability windows for laboratory research.
Read article →A copper-binding tripeptide endogenous to human plasma, studied extensively in wound healing, collagen synthesis, antioxidant defense, and gene expression regulation within cellular research models.
Read article →Compare GHK-Cu copper peptide and BPC-157 in skin, tissue repair, and regenerative research models.
Read article →Cosmetic and injectable safety reference for the copper tripeptide GHK-Cu: topical irritation potential, copper-load considerations, sensitisation rates, and absence of validated long-term systemic-use data.
Read article →Reconstitution math, topical vs injectable dosing ranges, scheduling, and copper-saturation considerations from the GHK-Cu research literature.
Read article →Copper-coordination chemistry, gene-expression modulation, SOD/antioxidant activity, and matrix remodelling pathways defining GHK-Cu in tissue-repair research.
Read article →How Ares compares for GHK-Cu
Independent, documentation-first breakdowns of the vendors researchers most often ask about for this compound. COA verification, US shipping, and sourcing transparency, side by side.
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All testing documentation and COA data are provided for laboratory research use only and are not intended to support human consumption, diagnostic, or therapeutic use.
Independent Certificate of Analysis
Independently tested by Janoshik Analytical. Verified and batch-tracked by Ares Research. Additional reports available upon request.
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