Quick answer
GHK-Cu is the copper(II) complex of the tripeptide Gly-His-Lys (GHK), with the formula C14H21CuN6O4, a molecular weight of 400.90 g/mol and CAS number 89030-95-5. It is a blue powder because of the copper it carries. A GHK-Cu certificate of analysis (COA) should show the lot number, HPLC purity with its chromatogram and a mass-spec identity check, and a 100mg research vial holds 100mg of lyophilized powder.
GHK-Cu 100mg · lot-specific COA included · HPLC purity and mass-spec identity tested by an independent lab
Table of Contents
- What Is GHK-Cu?
- GHK-Cu Key Facts
- GHK-Cu Formula, CAS Number and Molecular Weight
- GHK-Cu COA: How to Read the Certificate of Analysis
- GHK-Cu Purity Test: HPLC and Mass Spec
- What Color Should GHK-Cu Be?
- How to Reconstitute GHK-Cu 100mg for Lab Work
- GHK-Cu Storage and Shelf Life
- GHK-Cu vs GLOW vs KLOW
- What Published GHK-Cu Studies Examined
- Regulatory Status
- Where to Buy GHK-Cu 100mg
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Is GHK-Cu?
GHK-Cu is a small peptide, glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine (GHK), bound to one copper(II) ion. GHK was first described in 1973 as a tripeptide in human serum, and later work showed that it binds copper tightly (Lau and Sarkar, 1981).
It is also called copper tripeptide, copper peptide GHK-Cu or, in cosmetics, copper tripeptide-1. Research on it covers collagen and extracellular-matrix biology, gene expression and copper chemistry, mostly in cell-culture and animal models.
CoreVionRX supplies GHK-Cu as a 100mg lyophilized research vial for laboratory use only.
GHK-Cu Key Facts
- Composition: Gly-His-Lys (GHK) complexed with copper(II)
- Molecular formula: C14H21CuN6O4
- Molecular weight: 400.90 g/mol (PubChem CID 139035031)
- CAS number: 89030-95-5
- Vial contents: 100mg net, blue lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder
- Testing: each lot is checked by an independent lab for HPLC purity and mass-spec identity; the lot COA ships with the order
- Storage: sealed powder at -20°C away from light; after dissolving, 2–8°C
- Status: research use only; not an FDA-approved drug
GHK-Cu Formula, CAS Number and Molecular Weight
GHK-Cu has the molecular formula C14H21CuN6O4 and a molecular weight of 400.90 g/mol. Its CAS number is 89030-95-5, the number most suppliers and the CoreVionRX product page use.
| Property | GHK-Cu | GHK (no copper) |
|---|---|---|
| Sequence | Gly-His-Lys + Cu(II) | Gly-His-Lys |
| Molecular formula | C14H21CuN6O4 | C14H24N6O4 |
| Molecular weight | 400.90 g/mol | 340.38 g/mol |
| CAS number | 89030-95-5 | 49557-75-7 |
| PubChem CID | 139035031 | 73587 |
| Appearance | Blue powder | White powder |
Copper accounts for about 15.9% of the complex’s formula weight (63.55 of 400.90 g/mol). The copper-free peptide, GHK, is a different entry with its own CAS number, so check which one a document refers to. Sources: PubChem CID 139035031 and PubChem CID 73587.
GHK-Cu COA: How to Read the Certificate of Analysis
A GHK-Cu COA is the lab report that ties one production lot to its test data. It is only useful if it is lot-specific, names its test methods and shows identity as well as purity.
Check these five points on any GHK-Cu certificate of analysis:
- Lot number: it must match the number printed on your vial label. If it doesn’t, the report doesn’t describe your material.
- Named method: purity should come from HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography), and the report should say so.
- Purity with a chromatogram: a percentage backed by the trace it came from, with one dominant peak.
- Identity by mass spectrometry: the measured mass should fit GHK or GHK-Cu, and the report should say which form it measured.
- Traceable sign-off: the testing lab’s name, the report date and an authorizing signature.
Every CoreVionRX GHK-Cu lot is tested by an independent lab before it reaches the shelf, and the lot-specific COA comes with your order. For a broader walkthrough, see how to read a peptide COA and the peptide endotoxin and COA testing guide.
GHK-Cu Purity Test: HPLC and Mass Spec
HPLC answers “how much of this is the target compound?” and mass spectrometry answers “is it the right compound?” A GHK-Cu test report needs both.
In an HPLC chromatogram, purity is the main peak’s share of the total peak area. Small extra peaks are impurities such as truncated sequences or synthesis by-products. A purity figure with no chromatogram, no method and no lot number tells you very little.
Mass spectrometry confirms identity. The GHK peptide has a monoisotopic mass of 340.19 Da, so in positive-ion mode its [M+H]+ signal appears near m/z 341.2. Some reports show the copper complex instead, so the report should state which species it measured.
| Test | What it confirms | What to look for on the report |
|---|---|---|
| HPLC | Purity | Method stated, percentage, chromatogram with one dominant peak |
| Mass spectrometry | Identity | Mass consistent with GHK (340.38 g/mol) or GHK-Cu (400.90 g/mol), with the species named |
| Lot traceability | That the data describes your vial | Lot number that matches the vial label, test date, lab name |
What Color Should GHK-Cu Be?
GHK-Cu should be blue. The copper(II) ion bound to the peptide gives the powder a blue color and the dissolved solution a clear blue tint, so a blue vial is normal.
The copper-free peptide, GHK, is white, so a white powder sold as GHK-Cu doesn’t match the compound. Cloudiness, visible particles or a green or brown tint after dissolving are also not normal; set that vial aside and compare it with its lot COA.
How to Reconstitute GHK-Cu 100mg for Lab Work
To reconstitute GHK-Cu, add bacteriostatic water slowly down the inside wall of the vial and swirl gently until the powder dissolves. The volume you add only sets the concentration; the 100mg of material in the vial stays the same.
Lab prep steps:
- Let the sealed vial reach room temperature before opening, so moisture doesn’t condense on the powder.
- Wipe the stopper with an alcohol swab.
- Add the chosen volume of bacteriostatic water slowly down the vial wall, not straight onto the powder.
- Swirl gently. Don’t shake, which can cause foaming.
- Check that the solution is clear and blue, then label the vial with lot number, date, volume added and concentration.
How Much Bacteriostatic Water for GHK-Cu 100mg?
There is no single required volume. Divide 100mg by the millilitres added to get the concentration in mg/mL:
| Bacteriostatic water added | GHK-Cu in vial | Resulting concentration |
|---|---|---|
| 2 mL | 100mg | 50 mg/mL |
| 3 mL | 100mg | 33.33 mg/mL |
| 5 mL | 100mg | 20 mg/mL |
| 10 mL | 100mg | 10 mg/mL |
Larger volumes give lower concentrations. If several people in a lab prepare solutions, agree on one standard volume and record it the same way every time. The complete reconstitution guide covers technique in more detail.
GHK-Cu Storage and Shelf Life
Store sealed GHK-Cu powder frozen at -20°C, away from light and moisture. Once dissolved, keep it refrigerated at 2–8°C.
| State | Temperature | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sealed powder, long term | -20°C (freezer) | Dark and dry; use by the expiry date on the vial label |
| Sealed powder, short term | Room temperature | Brief periods only, such as shipping |
| Dissolved solution | 2–8°C (refrigerator) | Label with lot number and preparation date |
| Dissolved, repeated freezing | Not recommended | Repeated freezing and thawing can degrade peptides |
The product listing gives no fixed window for the dissolved solution, so record the preparation date and check color and clarity at each lab session. The full peptide storage guide explains why heat, light and repeated warming matter.
GHK-Cu vs GLOW vs KLOW
GHK-Cu 100mg is a single compound. GLOW and KLOW are blends, and each contains 50mg of GHK-Cu alongside other peptides.
| GHK-Cu 100mg | GLOW 70mg | KLOW 80mg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GHK-Cu | 100mg | 50mg | 50mg |
| BPC-157 | – | 10mg | 10mg |
| TB-500 | – | 10mg | 10mg |
| KPV | – | – | 10mg |
| Total per vial | 100mg | 70mg | 80mg |
| Color | Blue | Blue | Blue |
All three are blue because each contains GHK-Cu. A single-compound vial suits work that needs GHK-Cu alone; the blends suit work that studies several peptides together. See the GLOW 70mg research guide and the KLOW 80mg research guide for the blends.
What Published GHK-Cu Studies Examined
Most GHK-Cu research is preclinical: chemistry, cell cultures and animal models. A large share of the later literature, including the main review articles, comes from one research group.
- Discovery in human serum (cell culture). GHK was first reported as a tripeptide in human serum that affected the survival and growth of cultured liver cells (Pickart and Thaler, 1973, Nature New Biology).
- Copper binding (chemistry). Potentiometric and spectroscopic work described how GHK binds copper(II) and showed that, at equal concentrations, it can compete with albumin for copper at pH 7.5 (Lau and Sarkar, 1981, Biochemical Journal).
- Collagen synthesis in fibroblasts (cell culture). Adding GHK-Cu to fibroblast cultures increased collagen synthesis at nanomolar concentrations, without a change in cell number (Maquart et al., 1988, FEBS Letters).
- Extracellular matrix in a wound-chamber model (animal and cell culture). In a rat experimental wound-chamber model and rat dermal fibroblasts, GHK-Cu changed glycosaminoglycan levels and raised decorin mRNA (Siméon et al., 2000, Journal of Investigative Dermatology).
- Skin penetration (in vitro, isolated human skin). Diffusion-cell experiments measured how much copper from a copper tripeptide solution passed into and through separated human skin layers over 48 hours (Hostynek et al., 2011, Inflammation Research).
- Gene-expression data (review). A narrative review summarizes cell, animal and gene-expression database studies of GHK and the pathways they point to (Pickart and Margolina, 2018, International Journal of Molecular Sciences).
What is still unknown: how these cell and animal findings relate to any other setting, and how much of the literature has been independently replicated. The reviews are written largely by the group that first described GHK.
Regulatory Status
GHK-Cu is not an FDA-approved drug. In May 2026 the FDA added GHK-Cu to its 503A “Category 1” list of bulk substances under evaluation for pharmacy compounding, and its Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee plans to review it at a meeting before February 2027. Copper tripeptide-1 is also used as a cosmetic ingredient.
CoreVionRX sells GHK-Cu strictly as a laboratory research material. It is not for human or veterinary use and is not sold as a drug, supplement, cosmetic or medical product.
Where to Buy GHK-Cu 100mg
GHK-Cu 100mg is available from CoreVionRX with independent HPLC purity and mass-spec identity testing and a lot-specific COA included with every order. See the GHK-Cu 100mg product page for current price and availability.
GHK-Cu 100mg · lot-specific COA included · ships with independent test data
Researchers who want GHK-Cu in a blend can compare the GLOW 70mg and KLOW 80mg research blends.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is GHK-Cu?
GHK-Cu is the tripeptide glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine (GHK) bound to one copper(II) ion. It has the formula C14H21CuN6O4, a molecular weight of 400.90 g/mol and CAS number 89030-95-5, and it is studied mainly in cell-culture and animal research.
What should a GHK-Cu certificate of analysis show?
A lot number that matches your vial, HPLC purity with the method and chromatogram, a mass-spec identity result that names whether it measured GHK or GHK-Cu, and the testing lab’s name, report date and sign-off.
What color should GHK-Cu be?
Blue. The copper(II) ion makes the powder blue and the dissolved solution clear blue. A white powder, cloudiness, particles or a green or brown tint do not match the compound; compare that vial with its lot COA.
How much bacteriostatic water do you add to GHK-Cu 100mg?
It depends on the concentration you want. 2 mL gives 50 mg/mL, 3 mL gives 33.33 mg/mL, 5 mL gives 20 mg/mL and 10 mL gives 10 mg/mL. The volume changes only the concentration, not the amount of material.
How should GHK-Cu be stored?
Keep the sealed powder frozen at -20°C, away from light and moisture. After dissolving, refrigerate it at 2–8°C, label it with the lot number and date, and avoid repeated freezing and thawing.
What is the difference between GHK-Cu and KLOW?
GHK-Cu 100mg is one compound. KLOW 80mg is a blend of GHK-Cu 50mg, BPC-157 10mg, TB-500 10mg and KPV 10mg; GLOW 70mg is the same blend without KPV.
Related Research Guides
- GLOW 70mg research guide
- KLOW 80mg research guide
- How to read a peptide COA
- Peptide endotoxin and COA testing
Written by the CoreVionRX Research Team. Sources: PubChem CIDs 139035031 and 73587, the PubMed records linked above and the FDA 503A bulk substances list.
For laboratory research use only. Not for human or veterinary use.
