Every batch ships straight from the lab that synthesises it — sealed, tamper-evident, and HPLC-verified to >99% purity . Buying direct means you pay the lab-direct rate on every vial, with nothing stacked on top.

Order a full sealed 10-vial research pack for a complete study supply, or add a single-vial sample alongside your pack to trial a new compound first. Same lab, same batch, same verified purity — scaled to whatever your research needs.

What It's Researched For

In plain terms, AHK-Cu is a small peptide that carries copper into cells. Here is where the research actually sits.

Hair-follicle models

Most of the published work is on cultured dermal papilla cells, the population at the base of the follicle that drives hair growth.

VEGF and blood supply

Studied for raising VEGF expression, the signal that recruits blood vessels — the angiogenic thread running through copper-peptide research.

Copper delivery

A worked example of using a peptide to present copper, a cofactor that several structural and antioxidant enzymes cannot work without.

GHK-Cu comparator

Its clearest research value is head-to-head against GHK-Cu — same copper-binding motif, different reported tissue emphasis.

Overview

In short: AHK-Cu is the copper(II) complex of alanyl-histidyl-lysine, a copper-binding tripeptide studied chiefly in dermal-papilla and hair-follicle models.

Key research facts

Copper-binding tripeptide (Ala-His-Lys) from the same signalling-peptide family as GHK-Cu

Central histidine imidazole anchors the copper(II) ion, the structural basis of the complex

Studied in cultured dermal papilla cells — the follicular population that governs hair growth

Reported to raise VEGF expression in those models, the angiogenic link in copper-peptide research

Examined for follicular elongation in hair-follicle organ culture

Research use only. These points summarise lab themes, not human outcomes.

Copper peptides are a small family of short sequences that bind copper(II) tightly and are thought to act as carriers and presenters of that ion. The best characterised is GHK-Cu, the glycyl-histidyl-lysine complex isolated from human plasma and studied for decades in wound-healing and skin-remodelling contexts. AHK-Cu shares the essential architecture — a central histidine whose imidazole nitrogen anchors the metal, flanked by a small N-terminal residue and a C-terminal lysine — but substitutes alanine for glycine at the first position.

That single substitution comes with a different research literature rather than a different mechanism. AHK-Cu appears predominantly in hair-related work: studies on cultured human dermal papilla cells, the mesenchymal cells at the follicle base that regulate the hair-growth cycle, have reported increased cell viability and elevated expression of vascular endothelial growth factor, and hair-follicle organ-culture experiments have examined follicular elongation. VEGF is the recurring thread, because follicular growth depends on the perifollicular vascular network and copper is implicated in angiogenic signalling.

The honest framing is that this is a much thinner evidence base than GHK-Cu’s. The studies are in-vitro and ex-vivo, several come from cosmetic-industry research rather than independent groups, and there is no controlled human trial literature to draw on. Its most defensible research use is as a structural comparator in copper-peptide structure-activity work. It is supplied here as a research-grade lyophilised powder for in-vitro and preclinical use only, and nothing on this page is medical advice.

Mechanism of Action

AHK-Cu binds copper(II) through its central histidine imidazole and delivers it to cells. The downstream research signal is VEGF expression in dermal papilla cells, linking the complex to the angiogenic and enzymatic roles copper plays in tissue.

Pathway Effect Why it matters Copper(II) coordination Histidine imidazole plus the peptide backbone chelate the copper ion The structural basis of the complex and of every downstream effect claimed for it VEGF expression Reported to raise VEGF in cultured dermal papilla cells Perifollicular blood supply is a limiting factor in follicle growth models Dermal papilla viability Reported increases in cultured papilla-cell viability The papilla is the signalling centre of the hair-growth cycle Lysyl oxidase cofactor supply Copper is a required cofactor for the enzyme that cross-links collagen and elastin The general mechanistic rationale for copper peptides in connective tissue Superoxide dismutase cofactor Cu/Zn-SOD depends on copper for antioxidant activity The antioxidant arm of copper-peptide research

Deeper dive for scientific readers

Copper-peptide chemistry turns on a balance: the ion has to be bound tightly enough to stay non-toxic and stably transported, but loosely enough to be handed off to a cellular acceptor. The His-containing tripeptide motif achieves that in the same range as albumin’s N-terminal copper site, which is why this family of sequences appears repeatedly in the literature. AHK-Cu’s reported activity is entirely consistent with that framing — nothing in the published work implies a dedicated receptor or a signalling pathway unique to this sequence, and the most parsimonious reading is that it behaves as a copper-delivery vehicle whose tissue emphasis reflects which experiments have happened to be run. Practical handling follows from the chemistry: the complex is sensitive to pH and is stripped by chelators, so buffers containing EDTA will dissociate it and comparisons against uncomplexed peptide or against copper salts alone are the controls the literature expects.

Common Questions People Are Asking

What is AHK-Cu used for in research?

It is studied mainly in hair-follicle biology — cultured dermal papilla cells and hair-follicle organ culture — with cell viability and VEGF expression as the usual endpoints. More broadly it serves as a structural comparator to GHK-Cu in copper-peptide structure-activity work. It is supplied here for laboratory research only and is not for human use.

How is AHK-Cu different from GHK-Cu?

They differ by one residue: AHK-Cu has alanine where GHK-Cu has glycine at the N-terminus. Both bind copper(II) through a central histidine, so the coordination chemistry is essentially the same. The practical difference is the literature — GHK-Cu is studied extensively for collagen synthesis and skin remodelling, while AHK-Cu appears mostly in hair-follicle work, and GHK-Cu’s evidence base is far larger.

Why does the copper matter?

Copper is the active part of the story. It is a required cofactor for lysyl oxidase, which cross-links collagen and elastin, and for Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase, an antioxidant enzyme, and it has long been associated with angiogenic signalling. The peptide’s role is to bind the ion tightly enough to transport it safely but loosely enough to hand it off to cells.

Is there human clinical data for AHK-Cu?

No controlled human trial of AHK-Cu is cited on this page. The available studies are in-vitro and ex-vivo, and a meaningful share come from cosmetic-industry research rather than independent academic groups. Treat the compound as early-stage and do not import GHK-Cu’s evidence base onto it.

How should AHK-Cu be handled and stored?

Keep the lyophilised powder frozen at −20 °C, protected from light and moisture. Reconstitute in bacteriostatic or sterile water and refrigerate at 1–6 °C. Avoid buffers containing EDTA or other chelators, which strip the copper from the peptide, and be aware that large pH shifts destabilise the complex — many protocols prepare it fresh for this reason.

Where can I buy AHK-Cu?

Right here — AHK-Cu is supplied directly by New-U Research Compounds on this page. Every batch is independently third-party tested to >99% HPLC purity with a batch-linked Certificate of Analysis, supplied as lyophilised research-grade material, and shipped direct from source worldwide in discreet, tracked packaging. Strictly for laboratory research use only — not for human use.

How much does AHK-Cu cost?

AHK-Cu pricing is shown live on this page, per pack size — 10-vial research packs as standard, with single-vial sample options on selected compounds. Larger vial strengths lower the per-mg cost, every order includes the batch Certificate of Analysis, and shipping is free on orders over $300.

Is AHK-Cu third-party tested?

Yes. Every AHK-Cu batch is verified by independent laboratories (Janoshik Analytics and Freedom Diagnostics) for identity and purity, with a batch-linked Certificate of Analysis confirming >99% purity by HPLC. Every order ships with its COA, and current batch certificates are published on our COA page.

How do I buy AHK-Cu?

Add the AHK-Cu pack size you need to your cart and check out: enter your shipping details, then choose your payment method — cryptocurrency or card — on the next step. Every order ships with its batch Certificate of Analysis (COA). AHK-Cu is supplied strictly for laboratory research use only, not for human or veterinary use.

What payment methods can I use to buy AHK-Cu?

At checkout you can pay by cryptocurrency (BTC, ETH, SOL, LTC, USDC, USDT and more) or by card, each handled by a dedicated secure payment provider. You choose your method after confirming your order.

How fast is shipping, and do you ship worldwide?

Yes — we ship worldwide in discreet, unmarked, temperature-stable, tracked packaging. Delivery typically takes 6–14 business days, and shipping is free on orders over $300.

Is it legal to buy AHK-Cu?

In the United States, AHK-Cu is sold strictly for laboratory and research purposes only. It is not approved by the FDA for human consumption and is not sold for that purpose. Regulatory status varies by jurisdiction — buyers are responsible for compliance in their own region.

Pharmacokinetics

Stability Lyophilised powder: store in freezer (−20 °C), protected from light and moisture. Reconstituted: refrigerate 1–6 °C and use promptly — the copper complex is sensitive to pH shifts and to chelating agents, so avoid EDTA-containing buffers. Use within the validated stability window for the specific batch. Notes The AHK-Cu literature is dominated by cell-culture and follicle organ-culture experiments, which report micromolar concentrations in medium rather than administered amounts, so there is no published in-vivo schedule to describe. Copper peptides are typically prepared fresh because the copper complex is sensitive to pH and to chelating agents in the buffer. This text describes the state of the literature and is not a dosing recommendation. Material is for laboratory research only.

Evidence Tier

Overall: Tier 3: Anecdotal / self-report

AHK-Cu has a narrow, early-stage evidence base. The published work is in-vitro (cultured dermal papilla cells) and ex-vivo (hair-follicle organ culture), reporting cell viability and VEGF expression endpoints, and a meaningful share originates in cosmetic-industry research rather than independent academic groups. There are no controlled human trials for this specific peptide. The broader copper-peptide rationale it inherits from GHK-Cu is better supported, but that is evidence about a related molecule, not this one. It has no regulatory approval in any jurisdiction and is supplied as unapproved laboratory material.

Tier 2 · Animal

Ex-vivo hair-follicle organ culture and cultured human dermal papilla cell studies report viability and VEGF-expression effects; no controlled human trial of AHK-Cu is cited on this page

Certificates, databases & peer-reviewed sources

Last reviewed: 6 August 2026 · New-U Research Compounds

PubMed: peer-reviewed literature on AHK-Cu

ClinicalTrials.gov: registered studies on AHK-Cu

AHK-Cu: Wikipedia (search)

WebMD: consumer health reference

BBC News: Health

CNN Health: “Peptides: what to know about the wellness trend”

Sky News: “Can peptides make America healthy again?”

Sky News: “Inside the exploding US peptides craze” (video)

Sky News Australia: “Black market peptide trade explodes as influencers fuel uptick in use”

Sky News Australia: “Backyard peptide boom sparks alarm” (video)

Sky News Australia: “Oprah reveals struggle with shame of weight-loss drugs”

Key Characteristics

Copper(II) complex of the tripeptide Ala-His-Lys

Free tripeptide 354.40 Da; approximately 418 Da as the copper complex

Central histidine imidazole is the primary copper-coordinating group

Differs from GHK-Cu by a single N-terminal residue (Ala for Gly)

Published research is concentrated in hair-follicle and dermal-papilla models

VEGF expression is the most frequently reported endpoint

Sensitive to pH shifts and dissociated by chelators such as EDTA

Research-grade purity: >98% HPLC — confirm against the supplied batch certificate

Specifications

Sequence Ala-His-Lys (AHK), as the copper(II) complex Molecular Weight 354.40 Da free peptide; ~418 Da as the Cu(II) complex Class Copper-binding signalling tripeptide Purity >98% (HPLC) Form Lyophilised powder Appearance Blue to blue-violet, characteristic of the copper(II) complex Route Topical and intradermal in published research preparations Solubility Bacteriostatic or sterile water; avoid EDTA-containing buffers Storage Lyophilised: −20 °C freezer. Reconstituted: 1-6 °C, away from light.

About AHK-Cu: Copper Tripeptide Research Guide

AHK-Cu is one of a handful of short peptides that bind copper and are studied as carriers for it. The family’s founding member is GHK-Cu — glycyl-histidyl-lysine complexed with copper(II) — which was isolated from human plasma and has decades of research behind it in wound healing, collagen synthesis and skin remodelling. AHK-Cu swaps the N-terminal glycine for alanine. The copper-binding architecture is unchanged: the histidine in the middle of the sequence provides the imidazole nitrogen that anchors the metal, with the peptide backbone completing the coordination.

What separates the two is where they have been studied rather than how they work. The AHK-Cu literature is concentrated on hair. Experiments on cultured human dermal papilla cells — the mesenchymal cells at the base of the follicle that orchestrate the growth cycle — have reported improved viability and increased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor, and hair-follicle organ-culture work has measured follicular elongation. VEGF matters in that context because follicle growth is limited by its surrounding blood supply, and copper has long been associated with angiogenic signalling and with the enzymes, lysyl oxidase and Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase, that depend on it as a cofactor.

Researchers should weigh the evidence carefully. The AHK-Cu studies are in-vitro and ex-vivo, several originate in cosmetic-industry research rather than independent groups, and no controlled human trial of this peptide is available. The stronger copper-peptide evidence belongs to GHK-Cu, and it should not be transferred to this molecule without saying so. New-U Research Compounds supplies AHK-Cu as a research-grade lyophilised powder at >98% HPLC purity, strictly for in-vitro and preclinical research use. It is not approved for human therapeutic use in any jurisdiction, and nothing on this page constitutes medical advice or a dosing recommendation.

Copper peptide GHK-Cu - Wikipedia

Dermal papillae - Wikipedia

Vascular endothelial growth factor - Wikipedia

Lysyl oxidase - Wikipedia

Copper in health - Wikipedia

Customer Reviews

No customer reviews yet — be the first to share your experience.

More in Skin / Cosmetic

GHK-Cu

SNAP-8

AHK-Cu vs related Skin / Cosmetic compounds

Compound Price Purity spec COA AHK-Cu from $129 >98% HPLC On request GHK-Cu from $109 >99% HPLC 1 published batch SNAP-8 from $89 >99% HPLC On request

Descriptive catalog comparison for research sourcing decisions — not dosing guidance. All compounds are for laboratory research use only.

More on AHK-Cu

AHK-Cu research guide

Research use only — not for human consumption. All products are supplied strictly for laboratory research purposes.