GHK-Cu 50mg

GHK-Cu is the copper(II) complex of the naturally occurring tripeptide glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine (GHK). GHK binds copper ions with high affinity and is one of the most studied metallopeptides. Contexx Research supplies GHK-Cu in Canada as a 50 mg lyophilized research peptide with a lot-specific Janoshik third-party COA.

GHK-Cu specifications

Research overview

GHK was first isolated from human plasma in the 1970s by Loren Pickart, who found that it forms a tight complex with Cu(II) through the glycine amino group, the histidine imidazole and a deprotonated amide nitrogen. A 2026 review in Pharmaceutics covers GHK-Cu’s coordination chemistry, stability in solution and use as a delivery cargo in formulation science [1].

Much of the recent mechanistic interest comes from gene-expression data. Pickart and colleagues used Connectivity Map analysis of human cell-line expression profiles to identify large sets of genes whose expression shifts in response to GHK, including genes involved in extracellular-matrix organisation, antioxidant defence and the ubiquitin–proteasome system [2]. A related paper applied the same approach to genes relevant to nervous-system function [3].

In the laboratory, GHK-Cu is used in fibroblast and extracellular-matrix studies, copper-binding and metallopeptide chemistry experiments, gene-expression profiling and peptide-formulation research.

Selected references

1. Mateescu DM et al. Pharmaceutics. 2026. PubMed 42797253
2. Pickart L et al. Int J Mol Sci. 2018. PubMed 29986520
3. Pickart L et al. Brain Sci. 2017. PubMed 28212278

Related reading: GHK-Cu copper peptide: a research overview of its biological properties.

Storage and handling

GHK-Cu ships as a lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder. Dry material is far more stable than material in solution, so keep it in its dry, sealed state until you need it.

• Store unopened vials of GHK-Cu at −20 °C, dry and protected from light. Let the vial reach room temperature before opening to limit condensation.
• Prepare stock solutions in a solvent suited to your assay, label them with concentration and date, and keep them at 2–8 °C for short-term use.
• For longer storage of solutions, divide them into single-use aliquots and freeze them; avoid repeated freeze–thaw cycles.
• Handle with gloves and eye protection, following your laboratory’s standard chemical-hygiene practice.

See our guide to storing lyophilized peptides in the lab for more detail.

Quality and testing

This lot of GHK-Cu has a third-party Certificate of Analysis from Janoshik Analytical, an independent testing laboratory. View the Janoshik COA (also available through the Check COA button on this page). The report shows the tested identity and purity for that lot; check that it matches the product and vial size you ordered.

We don’t list purity figures in this description; the lot COA is the reference for identity and purity. Researchers should confirm identity and concentration with their own analytical methods where their protocol requires it.

Frequently asked questions

What’s included when I order GHK-Cu 50 mg?

One sealed vial containing 50 mg of GHK-Cu as a lyophilized powder. Reconstitution solution is sold separately.

Does GHK-Cu come with a Certificate of Analysis (COA)?

Yes. This lot has a Janoshik third-party Certificate of Analysis, linked on this page and through the Check COA button. It reports the tested identity and purity for the lot.

How fast is shipping in Canada?

Orders are processed Monday to Friday, and most orders ship within 24 hours from Mississauga, Ontario, in secure, tamper-evident packaging. Orders placed on Friday afternoon (after the 12:00 PM ET cut-off) ship on Monday, when Canada Post resumes pickup, or on the next business day if Monday is a statutory holiday. Once your order ships, delivery typically takes 1–3 business days in Ontario and Quebec and 2–6 business days in the rest of Canada, and a tracking number is emailed to you. Orders over $250 CAD shipped within Canada qualify for free standard shipping. See our Shipping Policy for details.

How should GHK-Cu be stored?

Store unopened vials at −20 °C, dry and protected from light. After reconstitution, keep solutions at 2–8 °C for short-term use, or freeze single-use aliquots and avoid repeated freeze–thaw cycles.

What does “research use only” mean?

“Research use only” means GHK-Cu is sold only as a reference material for in-vitro laboratory and analytical research by qualified professionals. It is not for use in humans or animals, not for diagnostic use, and not a drug, natural health product, food, supplement or cosmetic.

Research use only

GHK-Cu is sold by Contexx Research Inc. strictly as a reference material for in-vitro laboratory research and analytical use by qualified professionals. It is not a drug, natural health product, food, dietary supplement or cosmetic. It is not intended for use in humans or animals, for diagnostic purposes, or for ingestion or any other form of administration to a living organism. Nothing on this page describes or implies any effect in humans or animals. Purchasers are responsible for handling, storage and disposal in line with applicable laws and their institution’s policies. By ordering, you confirm that you are purchasing for legitimate laboratory research and agree to our Terms and Conditions.