AHK-Cu

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What Is AHK-Cu?

AHK-Cu (Alanyl-Histidyl-Lysine Copper(II) complex) is a synthetic copper-binding tripeptide composed of the three amino acids Ala, His, and Lys, coordinated to a single Cu²⁺ ion. It is the sister molecule of the more extensively studied GHK-Cu — both belong to the “copper peptide” class, both share the same Cu-coordination architecture using a histidine residue, and both are studied in dermatological research contexts. Where they diverge is in primary research signal: GHK-Cu is the canonical research peptide for skin remodelling, wound healing, and connective-tissue repair, while AHK-Cu’s most-cited research applications are in hair follicle biology.

The well-characterised molecular composition is C₁₅H₂₅CuN₆O₄, molecular weight approximately 417 Da. The Cu²⁺ ion coordinates with the tripeptide via the imidazole nitrogen of histidine, the amino terminus of alanine, and the deprotonated peptide nitrogen between Ala and His — the same square-planar coordination geometry as in GHK-Cu. The bound copper gives both compounds their characteristic blue-to-violet colour in solid and dissolved form — researchers reconstituting AHK-Cu should expect a visibly blue working solution.

AHK-Cu is supplied as a high-purity lyophilized copper-peptide complex for reconstitution with bacteriostatic water. The compound is not approved by the FDA, EMA, MHRA, or any other major regulator for human therapeutic use. The research-grade AHK-Cu sold here is supplied uitsluitend voor laboratoriumonderzoek and is not intended for human or veterinary administration. For the sister skin-research copper peptide, see our GHK-Cu product page.

Mechanism of Action — Copper Delivery to Hair Follicle Papilla Cells

What makes AHK-Cu mechanistically distinctive among copper peptides is its preferential signalling at dermal papilla cells in the hair follicle — the mesenchymal cells at the base of each follicle that regulate hair-shaft production and cycle through the growth (anagen), regression (catagen), and rest (telogen) phases. Published research has documented three principal mechanisms:

• Copper delivery to dermal papilla cells — The Cu²⁺ ion is the active payload of AHK-Cu (and of GHK-Cu in skin research). The tripeptide is a vehicle that ferries the metal ion into target tissue, where copper participates in multiple enzyme cofactor roles including lysyl oxidase (collagen and elastin cross-linking) and superoxide dismutase (oxidative-stress buffering). At the hair follicle, dermal papilla cells take up copper from AHK-Cu and use it to support the follicular extracellular matrix and oxidative-stress management that anagen requires.
• VEGF upregulation and follicular vascularization — AHK-Cu stimulates vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in dermal papilla cells. The downstream effect is increased follicular perfusion — new capillary growth at the follicle base that supports the metabolic demands of the rapidly-proliferating hair-matrix keratinocytes during anagen. This perfusion-enhancement mechanism overlaps with the minoxidil mechanism but operates via a fundamentally different pathway (direct copper-peptide signalling rather than ATP-sensitive potassium channel modulation).
• Anagen phase prolongation and follicular enlargement — In published rodent hair-cycle research, AHK-Cu administration prolongs the duration of the anagen growth phase and increases overall follicular size. The combined effect is more hair-shaft production per follicle per cycle. The mechanism appears to be downstream of the copper-delivery and VEGF-upregulation steps — healthy, well-perfused follicles in a copper-replete environment sustain anagen for longer before transitioning to catagen.

The mechanism is fundamentally different from the two FDA-approved hair-loss compounds: finasteride blocks 5-alpha-reductase to lower scalp DHT (hormonal mechanism); minoxidil opens ATP-sensitive potassium channels to vasodilate follicular vessels (vascular mechanism). AHK-Cu provides direct mesenchymal-cell signalling and copper-cofactor delivery, working at a different point in follicular biology than either FDA-approved compound — which makes it a useful research tool for dissecting follicular cell biology independent of androgen-axis or vasodilation-mediated mechanisms. Subcutaneous, topical, and intrafollicular injection routes are all documented in published research.

Published Research Applications

AHK-Cu is used in laboratory research contexts that investigate:

• Hair follicle biology research — dermal papilla cell proliferation assays, follicular size measurement, hair-shaft diameter analysis, organ-cultured hair follicle research; canonical copper-peptide research compound for the hair-axis (Pyo et al., J Korean Med Sci 2007; Uno & Kurata, J Investig Dermatol)
• Hair cycle research — anagen / catagen / telogen phase duration, anagen induction in telogen follicles, comparative dose-response with established hair-axis comparator compounds
• Follicular vascularization research — VEGF expression, capillary density at the follicle base, peri-follicular perfusion measurement
• Comparative copper peptide research — head-to-head with GHK-Cu for dermatological research; AHK-Cu favoured for hair-axis endpoints, GHK-Cu favoured for skin/wound/anti-aging endpoints
• Topical and intradermal formulation research — AHK-Cu is one of the more-studied copper peptides for topical and intradermal delivery; published research investigates skin-penetration depth, follicular targeting via different vehicle formulations
• Hair-loss mechanism dissection — alongside finasteride (androgen-axis) and minoxidil (vascular axis), AHK-Cu provides a third orthogonal research mechanism (mesenchymal-cell + copper-cofactor + VEGF axis); useful for mechanism-of-action research designs
• Collagen and elastin research — copper’s role as cofactor for lysyl oxidase makes copper peptides relevant to research on extracellular matrix crosslinking; AHK-Cu shares this mechanism with GHK-Cu at the broader level although hair-axis effects predominate.

For broader context on where AHK-Cu fits within the copper-peptide and dermatological research landscape, see GHK-Cu as the canonical skin-research copper peptide, BPC-157 for tissue-repair research, and TB-500 for systemic recovery research. Browse the full onderzoekspeptiden catalogus voor gerelateerde verbindingen.

Beschikbare sterktes en concentraties

MedsBase stocks AHK-Cu in two lyophilized vial sizes calibrated to typical research protocol lengths. Each strength is available in 10-vial or 20-vial pack formats with full reconstitution guidance:

Both strengths are the same chemical form (lyophilized copper-peptide complex, 99%+ HPLC purity). Higher-mg vials are particularly useful for AHK-Cu because of the relatively large doses typical in topical-formulation research compared with the microgram-range systemic peptides. Higher-mg vials require smaller reconstitution volumes per unit dose.

How It Compares — AHK-Cu vs GHK-Cu

AHK-Cu and GHK-Cu are sister copper-binding tripeptides that share the same Cu-coordination chemistry but differ in the first amino-acid residue (Ala vs Gly). This minor structural difference produces qualitatively different research signals: GHK-Cu dominates skin/wound/anti-aging research while AHK-Cu’s strongest signal is in hair follicle biology.

For hair-axis research, AHK-Cu is the canonical first choice because of the dermal-papilla-cell selectivity and the documented anagen-prolongation signal. For skin remodelling, wound healing, and anti-aging research, GHK-Cu is the canonical reference. Some research designs use both in parallel arms to dissect copper-peptide effects that are shared (general Cu cofactor delivery) from effects that are sequence-specific (cell-type selectivity).

Opslag en Reconstituering

Voor reconstituering: store lyophilized vials refrigerated at 2–8 °C in original packaging for short-term working stock. For unopened long-term storage, freeze at −20 °C. Lyophilized AHK-Cu is stable under refrigeration for up to 24 months and at −20 °C for up to 36 months. Avoid freeze-thaw cycles on the lyophilized powder. The Cu²⁺ coordination is stable in the lyophilized form; once reconstituted, prolonged exposure to light or reducing agents can affect the copper oxidation state.

Reconstitueringsprocedure: inject bacteriostatic water down the side wall of the peptide vial (not directly onto the lyophilized cake). For a 20 mg vial, 2.0 mL of bacteriostatic water yields a 10 mg/mL working concentration — 0.1 mL delivers 1 mg; 0.5 mL delivers 5 mg. Swirl gently — do niet shake — and allow 2–5 minutes for full dissolution. A correctly reconstituted solution should be clear with the characteristic blue colour of the bound Cu²⁺. Cloudiness or precipitate indicates a problem with reconstitution; discard and try again.

Na reconstitutie: store refrigerated at 2–8 °C and use within 30 days for optimal stability. Do not freeze the reconstituted solution — freeze-thaw cycles degrade peptide integrity. Protect from direct light at all times. For topical formulation research, AHK-Cu can be incorporated into a wide range of vehicles (creams, gels, serums) for follicle-research delivery; published vehicle research includes liposomal and microemulsion formulations for enhanced follicular penetration.

Veelgestelde vragen

What is AHK-Cu used for in research?

AHK-Cu is used in laboratory research investigating hair follicle biology, dermal papilla cell proliferation, anagen phase prolongation, follicular vascularization, hair-shaft diameter, comparative copper-peptide pharmacology, topical and intradermal formulation research, and mechanism-of-action dissection of hair-loss biology distinct from the androgen-axis (finasteride) and vascular (minoxidil) mechanisms. It is the canonical copper-peptide research compound for the hair-axis. The research-grade AHK-Cu sold here is niet FDA-approved and is supplied strictly for laboratory research use only.

How is AHK-Cu different from GHK-Cu?

Both are copper-binding tripeptides that share the same Cu-coordination architecture (His-mediated 1:1 Cu²⁺ binding). They differ in the first amino-acid residue — alanine in AHK-Cu, glycine in GHK-Cu — producing different cell-type selectivity in published research. AHK-Cu’s strongest research signal is in dermal papilla cells of the hair follicle; GHK-Cu‘s strongest signal is in skin fibroblasts and keratinocytes. The two are often studied in parallel to dissect shared copper-peptide effects from sequence-specific effects.

What is the typical AHK-Cu research dose?

Published preclinical protocols typically use 1–5 mg per administration for subcutaneous delivery and 2–10 mg for topical formulation research, given 1–3 times daily for 4–12 week research cycles. A 20 mg vial reconstituted with 2.0 mL bacteriostatic water yields 10 mg/mL — 0.1 mL equals 1 mg, 0.5 mL equals 5 mg.

Is AHK-Cu FDA approved?

No. AHK-Cu is not approved by the FDA, EMA, MHRA, or any other major regulator for human therapeutic use. Copper peptides have been incorporated into some cosmetic products under cosmetic-regulation frameworks, but AHK-Cu specifically has no therapeutic approval. All AHK-Cu sold by research-use-only suppliers is for laboratory investigation and should not be administered to humans.

How should AHK-Cu be stored?

Lyophilized vials: refrigerated at 2–8 °C for short-term working stock, or −20 °C for long-term storage of unopened vials. Reconstituted solution: refrigerated at 2–8 °C, use within 30 days. Do not freeze reconstituted solution — freeze-thaw cycles degrade the peptide and can affect copper coordination. Protect from direct light at all times to preserve copper oxidation state.

How do I reconstitute AHK-Cu?

Follow the reconstitution procedure above. Add bacteriostatic water down the side wall of the vial (not onto the lyophilized cake), swirl gently, and allow 2–5 minutes for full dissolution. Do niet shake the vial. A correctly reconstituted solution is clear with the characteristic blue colour of the bound Cu²⁺ — the colour itself confirms successful reconstitution and intact copper coordination. For a 20 mg vial + 2.0 mL diluent, the working concentration is 10 mg/mL.

Welke sterktes heeft MedsBase op voorraad?

MedsBase carries AHK-Cu in 20 mg and 50 mg lyophilized vials. Each strength is available in 10-vial or 20-vial pack sizes. All vials are supplied at 99%+ HPLC purity with a certificate of analysis available on request.

Why is AHK-Cu blue in colour?

The characteristic blue-to-violet colour of AHK-Cu (and GHK-Cu) comes from the d-d electronic transitions of bound Cu²⁺ in the square-planar coordination environment created by the histidine residue and the peptide backbone. The colour is a useful qualitative indicator of successful copper coordination — a properly reconstituted blue solution confirms intact Cu²⁺ binding, while a colourless or pale solution would indicate copper loss or degradation. This is unique among small peptides — most synthetic peptides yield colourless solutions when reconstituted.

How does AHK-Cu compare to finasteride or minoxidil?

The three target hair-loss biology through completely different mechanisms. Finasteride blocks 5-alpha-reductase to lower scalp dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels — an androgen-axis mechanism. Minoxidil opens ATP-sensitive potassium channels to vasodilate follicular vessels — a vascular mechanism. AHK-Cu provides direct copper-cofactor delivery and VEGF-mediated follicular vascularization at the dermal papilla cell level — a mesenchymal-cell mechanism. The three mechanisms are orthogonal, which makes AHK-Cu a useful research tool for studying follicular biology independent of androgen-axis or vasodilation-mediated effects.

Does AHK-Cu cause side effects in research?

Published preclinical research has reported a notably clean safety profile at typical research doses, with the main on-target effect being follicular stimulation. Off-target findings can include local injection-site irritation and (with prolonged high-dose topical exposure) modest cutaneous discolouration from copper deposition — both reversible with discontinuation. Systemic adverse effects from topical applications are rare due to limited transcutaneous absorption.

What is the half-life of AHK-Cu?

In preclinical research, AHK-Cu has a relatively short plasma half-life (~1–2 hours) following subcutaneous administration. The short half-life is offset by retention of bound copper in target tissues — even after plasma clearance, the copper delivered to dermal papilla cells continues to support follicular biology through its enzyme-cofactor roles. Topical formulations provide sustained local exposure that is more relevant for hair-axis research than the systemic plasma profile.

Can AHK-Cu and GHK-Cu be stacked in research?

Yes. The two copper peptides target different cell types (dermal papilla for AHK-Cu, dermal fibroblasts for GHK-Cu) and address different research domains (hair vs skin), so co-administration is not pharmacologically redundant. Research protocols studying combined skin-and-hair endpoints — for example, comprehensive dermatological remodelling research — sometimes use both arms.

How long does AHK-Cu take to show effects in preclinical research?

Acute effects on dermal papilla cell VEGF expression are detectable within 24–72 hours in cell-culture research. Follicular size and anagen-prolongation effects in rodent hair-cycle models typically become statistically significant after 4–8 weeks of regular treatment and continue to accrue through 12–16 weeks — matching the natural hair-cycle timeframe.

Can I order AHK-Cu for international shipping?

Yes. MedsBase ships AHK-Cu worldwide from our dedicated peptide shipping network. Peptide-only orders qualify for our standalone peptide shipping service. All orders ship in temperature-controlled packaging with full tracking and are covered by our Reshipment Assurance Policy.

Other Peptides for Hair, Skin, and Tissue-Regeneration Research

• GHK-Cu — Sister copper-binding tripeptide — canonical skin remodelling and wound-healing research compound
• BPC-157 — Body Protection Compound — tissue-regeneration and recovery research
• TB-500 (Thymosin Beta-4) — Systemic healing fragment — tissue and vascular recovery research
• Epitalon — AEDG pineal tetrapeptide — longevity and circadian research
• Semax — Nootropic heptapeptide — CNS research compound

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