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Specimen Atlas of Research Peptides81 plates · MIT
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VPlate VReviewed 2026-04-27

AHK-Cu

Tripeptide-Copper Complex

also known as L-alanyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+, Ala-His-Lys-Cu

Tripeptide copper complex composed of alanine-histidine-lysine bound to Cu²⁺. Structurally analogous to GHK-Cu but with alanine substitution at position 1. Investigated primarily for hair growth stimulation and dermal regeneration via modulation of dermal papilla cell proliferation and angiogenic signaling. Predominantly topical/cosmetic applications.

§ I

At a glance

Active range (in vitro)
10⁻¹² – 10⁻⁹ M
[pyo-2007]
Primary target
Dermal papilla cells
[pyo-2007]
Route
Topical
Route

Topical · Scalp / Skin

§ II

Mechanism

Edit ↗

Primary target — Dermal papilla cells (DPCs) — specialized fibroblasts in hair follicle morphogenesis [pyo-2007].

Pathway — AHK-Cu → DPC proliferation → VEGF elevation, TGF-β1 suppression → Angiogenesis, follicle elongation [pyo-2007].

Downstream effect — Stimulates hair follicle elongation ex vivo, reduces dermal papilla cell apoptosis, elevates Bcl-2/Bax ratio, reduces cleaved caspase-3 and PARP [pyo-2007].

Origin — Synthetic tripeptide with Cu²⁺ chelation — alanine substitution variant of GHK-Cu.

§ III

Dosage

Protocols described in the cited literature; not medical advice.

Edit ↗
ParameterValue
Effective concentration (in vitro)10⁻¹² – 10⁻⁹ M [pyo-2007]Stimulated human hair follicle elongation ex vivo and DPC proliferation in vitro.
Topical formulation0.001–0.01% (estimated cosmetic range)No standardized human protocol published — extrapolated from in vitro data.
FrequencyOnce or twice daily (topical application)
RouteTopical — scalp or dermal application
Evidence basisEx vivo hair follicle / in vitro DPC studies [pyo-2007]
DurationNot established — cosmetic protocols typically 8–12 weeks
§ III · b

Reconstitution

A pure mass-to-volume utility. Enter what you have in the vial; the atlas computes the volume per dose. No prescription information.

Inputs
mg
mL
mcg
The calculator does pure mass-to-volume math. It does not recommend a dose. Refer to AHK-Cu's cited literature for protocol specifics.
Volumetric outputFig. C — reconstitution math
Volume per dose
0.100mL
≈ 10.0 units on a U-100 insulin syringe
Concentration
2500
mcg per mL
Doses per vial
20
at this dose
§ V

Adverse events

Severities follow the FDA / CTCAE convention.

Edit ↗
Local irritationmild
Mild erythema, pruritus at application site (copper peptide class effect)
Copper sensitivitymild
Rare hypersensitivity reaction in copper-sensitive individuals
Systemic absorptionmild
Minimal via topical route — systemic copper toxicity unlikely at cosmetic doses
Data limitations
No published human safety trials — cosmetic use presumed safe per class precedent (GHK-Cu)
Absolute contraindications
  • — Known copper allergy or Wilson's disease
Relative contraindications
  • — Broken or inflamed skin (increased absorption risk)
  • — Concurrent use of other copper-containing formulations
§ VI

Administration

Edit ↗
  1. 01
    Topical application

    Apply to clean, dry scalp or target dermal area. Typical cosmetic formulations: 0.001–0.01% AHK-Cu in serum or cream base.

  2. 02
    Frequency

    Once or twice daily. Evening application preferred for overnight contact time.

  3. 03
    Scalp preparation

    For hair growth: apply directly to scalp, massage gently. No need to rinse. Allow absorption for minimum 2–4 hours.

  4. 04
    Storage

    Room temperature, protected from light. Copper complexes may degrade in UV exposure.

  5. 05
    Duration

    Minimum 8–12 weeks to assess efficacy in hair growth applications, per typical cosmetic peptide protocols.

§ VII

Synergies

Edit ↗
moderate synergy
Deterministic 12-node hex coat-of-arms fingerprint for Ahk Cu, generated from the slug hash. Decorative; the same slug always produces the same motif.+Deterministic 12-node hex coat-of-arms fingerprint for Ghk Cu, generated from the slug hash. Decorative; the same slug always produces the same motif.
AHK-Cu + GHK-Cu

Both tripeptide-copper complexes share overlapping angiogenic and wound-healing mechanisms (VEGF elevation, TGF-β modulation, fibroblast proliferation). AHK-Cu's alanine substitution may offer distinct receptor affinity or pharmacokinetics. Co-formulation could provide complementary dermal signaling, though no direct synergy studies exist. Often used interchangeably or in alternating protocols.

Primary benefit — Comprehensive dermal regeneration, angiogenesis, hair follicle support
Appendix

Sources

33%

of 43 rendered claims carry a resolvable citation.

  1. [pyo-2007]
    Pyo 2007 — The effect of tripeptide-copper complex on human hair growth in vitro.
    journal, 2007
    PubMed →
Plate composed 2026-04-27 · maturity human-reviewed · schema v1 · Contributors: peptidesdb-core · 29 fields uncited — open contributions
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