Peptide LibraryAHK-Cu
Also known as: Copper AHK, Ala-His-Lys copper
AHK-Cu (also called Copper AHK or Ala-His-Lys copper) is a copper tripeptide. AHK-Cu is the copper complex of the tripeptide alanyl-histidyl-lysine, closely related to GHK but with alanine replacing glycine at the first position. Like GHK it binds copper(II) through the histidine imidazole and the terminal amine, and the complex rather than the free peptide is considered the active form.
For research use only.
Key Facts
- CAS
- 682809-81-0
- Molecular Weight (MW)
- 417.96 g/mol
- Half-life
- —
- FDA status
- Not Approved
- Evidence level
- Insufficient Evidence
- Human dose established
- No
- Administration Route
- Not established in humans
- Frequency
- Not established in humans
- Last updated
- Nov 7, 2026
- Reviewed
- Nov 7, 2026
- Targets
- Copper-dependent enzymesDermal papilla (claimed)
Vendor price snapshot
Each vendor counts once, at the median price per mg of its own listings; the typical range is the middle half of vendors. From public vendor listings collected between Oct 2026 and Nov 2026, so confirm the live price on the vendor site. Peptide Library does not sell peptides.
- Vendors listing this peptide
- 18
- Listed offers
- 32
- Median price per mg (peptide vials)
- $0.650/mg
- Typical $0.610–$0.720/mg
By form
Each form is priced on its own: a price per mg doesn't make a spray or a capsule equivalent to a vial.
- Peptide vials15 vendors · median $0.650/mg
- Bulk powders6 vendors · median $0.090/mg
Research summary
Alanine-histidine-lysine copper complex used in hair- and skin-cosmetic research, related to GHK-Cu. Not an FDA-approved drug.
Research evidence
- Regulatory review (FDA label)None in reviewed sources
- Controlled human trialsNone in reviewed sources
- Early or uncontrolled human studiesNone in reviewed sources
- Lab & animal studies1 reviewed source
How it works
Each step shows whether the sources Peptide Library has reviewed include that kind of research. Counts are reviewed sources, not every study ever published. Reviews and programme summaries that describe human use are shown as "reported", not as trials, and registered trials without published results are listed but not counted. A higher step means research has progressed further; it does not mean a compound works better or is safer. Compounds whose evidence has not been reviewed yet show "Not reviewed" instead of a guess.
Peptide Library's AHK-Cu profile summarises 3 cited studies listed in the Science section, the compound's regulatory status, and research-protocol parameters reported for it. It is a research reference, not medical advice.
AHK-Cu dosage: no established human dose
AHK-Cu has no established human dosage. It is a copper tripeptide used in cosmetic hair and skin products, and it has not been given to people in any published or registered clinical trial. The main study tested it on human hair follicles and scalp cells in the laboratory, at concentrations of 10^-12 to 10^-9 M.
No established human dosage.
Human clinical evidence: None identified.
Preclinical research: AHK-Cu (alanine-histidine-lysine bound to copper) is related to GHK-Cu and is used as a cosmetic ingredient for hair and skin. Its evidence is laboratory work on human hair follicles and cells. No study has applied it to people in a controlled trial or injected it, so neither a topical strength nor an injected amount is established.
Animal dosing is not converted into a human dose anywhere on this page. Where research figures appear below, they are reported as studied, not recommended.
| Human dosing established | No |
|---|---|
| Route | Topical (cosmetic use); not established for injection |
| Evidence level | Insufficient Evidence |
| Last reviewed | 2026-11-07 |
Preclinical and analog research
Not human dosing evidence. Listed for completeness and never extrapolated to a human dose.
| Study / context | Population | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Outcome studied | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laboratory study — human hair follicles and dermal papilla cells (2007)Preclinical · Ex vivo and in vitro study | Isolated human hair follicles and cultured dermal papilla cells | 10^-12 to 10^-9 M in culture (not a human dose) | Applied to tissue in the laboratory | — | — | Longer hair follicles and more dermal papilla cell growth; a drop in cell death was not statistically significant | The effect of tripeptide-copper complex on human hair growth in vitro. Arch Pharm Res. 2007. |
Where sources disagree
- Cosmetic products list AHK-Cu by formulation, not by an amount per use. A cosmetic concentration is not a dose for injection.
- AHK-Cu and GHK-Cu are different peptides. GHK-Cu studies are not evidence for AHK-Cu.
Reconstitution
Common research vial sizes: 50 mg, 100 mg.
| Vial | Bacteriostatic water | Concentration | Per 0.01 mL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 mg | 5 mL | 10 mg/mL | 100 mcg per 0.01 mL |
| 100 mg | 5 mL | 20 mg/mL | 200 mcg per 0.01 mL |
These figures are arithmetic only — they convert a vial and a volume into a concentration. They are not a recommendation to take any dose.
Calculate reconstitution & dose →Handling & administration
- Timing Notes
- Educational catalog only — not medical advice
Sequence & molecular data
| Molecular formula | C15H26CuN6O4 |
|---|---|
| Molecular weight | 417.96 g/mol |
| CAS number | 682809-81-0 |
| Appearance | White lyophilized powder |
| Formulation | Lyophilized Powder |
| PubChem CID | 168431292 |
Identifiers link to the public PubChem, FDA Substance Registration (UNII), ChEMBL and DrugBank records for the same entity.
Science
Mechanism of Action
AHK-Cu is the copper complex of the tripeptide alanyl-histidyl-lysine, closely related to GHK but with alanine replacing glycine at the first position. Like GHK it binds copper(II) through the histidine imidazole and the terminal amine, and the complex rather than the free peptide is considered the active form. Reported activity is concentrated in hair-follicle and fibroblast models, where it stimulated the elongation of human hair follicles ex vivo and the proliferation of cultured dermal papilla cells, with fewer markers of apoptosis (Pyo et al., 2007), and has been described as stimulating extracellular matrix production. The evidence base is smaller than for GHK-Cu and is predominantly in vitro and cosmetic; controlled human trials have not been published.
Origin
Synthetic AHK–Cu(II) complex.
Targets
Studies
Research statistics
1 PubMed publications · 0.0% human clinical research · 0 registered trials
Counts of published research through 2026-11-01, not evidence that it works. Publications by year, study types and trials · How publications are counted
Regulatory & research status
AHK-Cu is not an FDA-approved product. It is sold for laboratory research and has no approved medical use.
| FDA status | Not Approved |
|---|---|
| Availability | OTC / Supplement |
| WADA (sport) | Permitted |
| Library classification | Research-Only |
How FDA approval, compounding and research-only status differ
Benefits
AHK-Cu side effects
AHK-Cu has no controlled human safety data. The effects below are reported, not established, and absence from the list is not evidence of safety.
Side Effects
- Irritation
- Copper discoloration
Storage & stability
Lyophilized (freeze-dried) peptide powder is far more stable than the reconstituted solution. Keep sealed vials cold, dry and away from light; long-term storage is typically frozen, with short-term refrigeration for vials in use.
Once reconstituted in bacteriostatic water, keep the solution refrigerated, avoid repeated freeze–thaw cycles and agitation, and label the vial with the reconstitution date and concentration. Discard any solution that turns cloudy or shows particulates.
Degradation rates differ by sequence: peptides containing methionine, cysteine, asparagine or glutamine are more prone to oxidation and deamidation, so shelf life after reconstitution is compound-specific rather than universal.
Cosmetic peptides in this library are formulated into topical products; follow the product label rather than the reconstitution guidance above.
Read the full guide: how to store peptides before and after reconstitution →
Source: Manning MC, Chou DK, Murphy BM, Payne RW, Katayama DS. Stability of protein pharmaceuticals: an update. Pharm Res. 2010;27(4):544–575. (PMID 20143256). General guidance for research handling; not product-specific instructions.
AHK-Cu: frequently asked questions
What is AHK-Cu?
Alanine-histidine-lysine copper complex used in hair- and skin-cosmetic research, related to GHK-Cu. Not an FDA-approved drug.
How does AHK-Cu work?
AHK-Cu is the copper complex of the tripeptide alanyl-histidyl-lysine, closely related to GHK but with alanine replacing glycine at the first position. Like GHK it binds copper(II) through the histidine imidazole and the terminal amine, and the complex rather than the free peptide is considered the active form.
Is AHK-Cu FDA approved?
No. AHK-Cu is not approved by the FDA for any indication and is categorised as otc / supplement. It has not been reviewed for safety or efficacy as a medicine, and published research should be read as investigation rather than established use.
Is AHK-Cu banned in sport?
AHK-Cu is recorded here as permitted in sport. Anti-doping status is revised annually, so athletes subject to testing should confirm against the current WADA Prohibited List before use.
What peptides are similar to AHK-Cu?
Compounds most often compared with AHK-Cu include GHK-Cu (Copper Peptide), Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 and Acetyl Octapeptide-3. They are grouped by shared mechanism or research area rather than by equivalence, and their regulatory status and evidence base differ.
References
- The effect of tripeptide-copper complex on human hair growth in vitro — Arch Pharm Res, 2007External reference
- Class-level evidence — Liposomes as Carriers of GHK-Cu Tripeptide for Cosmetic Application — Pharmaceutics, 2023External reference
- Class-level evidence — Are We Ready to Measure Skin Permeation of Modern Antiaging GHK-Cu Tripeptide Encapsulated in Liposomes? — Molecules, 2025External reference
Related research, comparisons & guides
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Compiled by Peptide Library Editorial · Reviewed Aug 30, 2026 · Updated Nov 7, 2026 · Version 4
This AHK-Cu profile is compiled from published literature (3 cited studies linked above), public regulatory records and chemical registries. It describes what research reports; it is not medical advice, and nothing here is a dosing recommendation for humans. Peptide Library does not sell peptides. Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled · Report an error
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