GHK-Cu
CAS 89030-95-5
Purity≥98.0%
Copper peptide for cosmetic active formulation development
For B2B ingredient sourcing, request the specification, batch COA, sample, packaging and lead-time confirmation. Explore personal-care ingredients.
Confirm peptide sequence, copper content and solution color limits.
Key Specifications
| Product Positioning | Copper peptide for cosmetic active formulation development |
| Application Scenarios | cosmetic serum development · peptide stability research · copper-complex compatibility |
| CAS Number | 89030-95-5 |
| Purity | ≥98.0% |
| Molecular Formula | C₁₄H₂₃CuN₆O₄ |
| Molecular Weight | 403.91 g/mol |
| Appearance | Blue powder |
| Solubility | Soluble in water |
| Storage | 2–8°C, protect from light |
| Shelf Life | 24 months |
Procurement & delivery
Supply details confirmed by intended use, volume and target market
Copper Tripeptide-1 (GHK-Cu, CAS 89030-95-5) is the copper(II) complex of the naturally occurring tripeptide glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine (Gly-His-Lys), with the molecular formula C14H23CuN6O4 and a molecular weight of 403.91 g/mol. The parent GHK sequence occurs naturally in human plasma, saliva and urine, where its concentration is known to decline with age. For commercial cosmetic-grade supply, the tripeptide backbone is built up amino acid by amino acid using controlled peptide-synthesis chemistry, then purified and combined with a copper salt under controlled pH to form the stable 1:1 GHK-copper chelate. The resulting complex is isolated, dried and milled into the fine blue powder supplied for formulation, typically manufactured to a purity of 98.0% or higher for use as a cosmetic active.
Pharmaceutical-Grade Purity
Each batch is manufactured and HPLC-verified to ≥98.0% purity, giving formulators a consistent, well-characterized active for cosmetic use.
Controlled Peptide Synthesis & Copper Chelation
The GHK tripeptide backbone is built under tightly controlled synthesis conditions, then chelated with copper at a fixed 1:1 ratio to ensure batch-to-batch consistency.
Uniform Blue Powder Form
Supplied as a fine, free-flowing blue powder with consistent particle size, allowing smooth dispersion and accurate weighing during formulation.
Rigorous Contaminant Testing
Every batch is screened for heavy metals (Pb, As, Cd, Hg) and microbial limits, supported by strict internal quality control.
Flexible Bulk & OEM Supply
Available in flexible bulk quantities with OEM/private-label support, custom packaging and documentation to fit both R&D and full-scale production needs.
Test items, specifications and batch results are shown here; request the formal COA through the card below.
Batch No.
PGGHK-260605
Test date
2026-06-06
Specification
In-house
Pack size
1KG/
Storage
2–8°C, protect from light
Conclusion
Conforms
| Test Item | Specification | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Blue to light blue fine powder | Blue powder, conforms |
| Odor | Odorless or slight characteristic odor | Odorless, conforms |
| Identification (IR spectrum) | Consistent with reference standard | Conforms |
| Assay (HPLC) | ≥98.0% | 98.6% |
| Copper content (ICP-OES/AAS) | 15.0%-16.5% | 15.4% |
| Loss on drying (Karl Fischer) | ≤8.0% | 5.1% |
| pH (1% aqueous solution) | 4.0-6.5 | 5.4 |
| Particle size (through 80 mesh) | ≥95% | 98% |
| Heavy metals (Pb/As/Cd/Hg) | Pb≤10ppm, As≤2ppm, Cd≤1ppm, Hg≤1ppm | Pb<5ppm, As<1ppm, Cd<0.5ppm, Hg<0.5ppm |
| Total plate count | ≤1000 CFU/g | <100 CFU/g |
| Yeast & mold | ≤100 CFU/g | <10 CFU/g |
| E. coli | Negative/25g | Negative |
| Salmonella | Negative/25g | Negative |
This page shows a batch-data summary only. No direct COA file link is provided; request the signed document through the form below.
Facial serums
Face and eye creams
Scalp serums
The pairing has been investigated in fibroblast and ex-vivo skin models, with collagen-IV expression depending on the material ratio. It can guide serum or cream prototype screening.
Evidence: Preclinical formulation evidence only; it does not prove clinical anti-wrinkle efficacy or validate every hyaluronic-acid grade.Source
Develop Copper Tripeptide-1 in controlled-pH aqueous serums or emulsions and verify color, assay, oxidation, preservatives and interactions with strong chelators or reducing/oxidizing actives.
Evidence: Formulation-development guidance; final claims require finished-product stability and efficacy testing.
Literature-Supported Research Directions
An early cell-culture study reported that GHK-Cu stimulated collagen synthesis by fibroblasts at very low concentrations without changing cell number. This is mechanistic in-vitro evidence and does not establish wrinkle reduction in a finished cosmetic.
Citation: Maquart et al., FEBS Letters 238 (1988), 343–346. PMID: 3169264.View source
In cultured dermal fibroblasts, GHK-Cu increased MMP-2 expression together with TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 secretion, supporting a matrix-remodeling rather than a simple 'more collagen' mechanism. Concentration-response and finished-formulation effects require separate validation.
Citation: Siméon et al., Life Sciences 67 (2000), 2257–2265. PMID: 11045606.View source
A randomized study in 13 patients using copper-tripeptide skincare after CO2 laser resurfacing found no objective difference in erythema, wrinkles or overall skin quality, although patient satisfaction was higher. The small, largely negative objective trial is important evidence-boundary information.
Citation: Miller et al., Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery 8 (2006), 252–259. PMID: 16847171.View source
Note: For ingredient R&D and scientific information; findings depend on model, dose, formulation and population and do not constitute a treatment claim or efficacy guarantee.
Lead Time
3–5business days
Standard products are generally in stock; confirm the exact lead time with us.
Minimum Order
10 g
Samples, pilot trials, and commercial volumes are supported.
Foil Pouch
Sealed, moisture-protective inner packaging
Insulated Box + Carton
For products requiring temperature-controlled transport
Bulk Shipping
Palletized and stretch-wrapped for protection
Ambient storage: foil pouch + fiber drum; temperature controlled: foil pouch + insulated box/carton. Confirm by product.
Custom packaging: Custom foil bags or HDPE drums, GMP label printing, and export documentation are available. Contact us for a quote.Images are packaging illustrations.
Certifications
Raw Material Preparation
Protected amino acid building blocks (glycine, L-histidine, L-lysine) are sourced and quality-checked before synthesis begins.
Solid-Phase Peptide Synthesis
The Gly-His-Lys sequence is assembled step by step on a solid resin support using controlled coupling and deprotection cycles.
Cleavage & Crude Peptide Recovery
The assembled tripeptide is cleaved from the resin and side-chain protecting groups are removed to yield the crude GHK peptide.
Tripeptide Purification
The crude GHK peptide is purified, typically by preparative HPLC or recrystallization, to remove synthesis by-products and truncated sequences.
Copper Chelation
Purified GHK is reacted with a copper salt (e.g., copper acetate or copper sulfate) under controlled pH and temperature to form the stable 1:1 GHK-copper chelate.
Crystallization & Isolation
The blue GHK-Cu complex is precipitated or crystallized from solution and separated by filtration or centrifugation.
Drying & Micronization
The isolated complex is dried under controlled conditions and milled to a uniform fine powder suitable for cosmetic formulation.
Quality Control & Packaging
Finished powder undergoes HPLC assay, copper-content and impurity testing, then is packaged under moisture-protective, light-shielded conditions.
Purity is typically determined by reverse-phase HPLC against a reference standard, while copper content is independently verified by ICP-OES or AAS to confirm the 1:1 GHK:copper ratio expected of an authentic chelate. Buyers should request a batch-specific Certificate of Analysis (COA) confirming both the HPLC purity and copper-content results, along with the test method and reference standard used, before committing to a large-volume purchase.
Commercial Copper Tripeptide-1 products include facial serums, creams and scalp treatments. Formulation must control pH, copper-peptide identity, oxidation, chelating interactions, preservatives and packaging. Finished-product testing is required because delivery and stability determine performance.
Standard commercial batches are manufactured and HPLC-verified to ≥98.0% purity; a batch-specific COA with the exact HPLC and copper-content results is provided with each shipment.
The GHK tripeptide backbone is built through controlled peptide-synthesis chemistry and then chelated with copper in a separate, closely controlled reaction step; it is not produced by microbial fermentation.
It is soluble in water, so it is normally added to the water phase of a formulation; the powder itself should be kept sealed, dry and protected from light and heat to preserve stability.
Yes, small samples are generally available for evaluation and formulation testing prior to committing to a bulk order; contact us with your intended application for details.
In addition to our internal COA, third-party testing (e.g., for heavy metals, microbial limits, or purity) can be arranged upon request for qualified order volumes.
Yes, we support OEM/ODM and private-label programs, including custom concentration, blending with complementary actives, and tailored documentation for your brand.
Standard packaging includes small foil bags or bottles for lab/R&D quantities and drums or bulk bags for commercial-scale orders; custom packaging can be arranged on request.
MOQ depends on order format (sample vs. bulk) and packaging; please contact our team with your target quantity and application to receive a tailored quotation.
Documents are subject to product and batch availability; third-party reports are provided only when applicable.
Quality documents
The specification sheet defines acceptance limits. The COA shows actual batch results, which may vary by batch. Third-party reports are provided only for products or batches that have been independently tested.
Stable acceptance criteria · Available on request
Actual test data · Issued with each shipment
Technical Resources
A formulation-focused guide to screen PDRN, GHK-Cu, and ceramide ingredients for serums, creams, masks, and other personal-care formats without turning preliminary science into finished-product claims.
A copper peptide serum that discolors or loses efficacy after a few months on the shelf usually isn't a raw material defect — it's an unaddressed compatibility issue. Here's what actually destabilizes GHK-Cu, and a verification step most buyers skip entirely.
Related Products
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Alex Huang · Mon–Fri 9am–6pm CST
