Reviewed by The Peptide Dispatch Editorial Team · Last reviewed July 6, 2026
Copper Peptide AHK-Cu (AHKCu) is a healing peptide, at the preclinical stage in the published literature. AHK-Cu (Alanine-Histidine-Lysine-Copper) is a copper-binding tripeptide that has gained attention for its hair growth-stimulating properties. While related to the well-known GHK-Cu peptide, AHK-Cu has been specifically studied for its effects on hair follicle biology. Research has shown that AHK-Cu can stimulate the proliferation of dermal papilla cells — the key signaling cells at the base of hair follicles that control hair growth cycling.
AHK-Cu (Alanine-Histidine-Lysine-Copper) is a copper-binding tripeptide that has gained attention for its hair growth-stimulating properties. While related to the well-known GHK-Cu peptide, AHK-Cu has been specifically studied for its effects on hair follicle biology. Research has shown that AHK-Cu can stimulate the proliferation of dermal papilla cells — the key signaling cells at the base of hair follicles that control hair growth cycling.
| Research Status | Preclinical |
|---|---|
| Half-Life | Topical (not systemically relevant) |
| Administration | Topical |
| Doses Reported in Published Studies | 1-3% in topical formulations |
| Molecular Weight | 403.9 Da (with copper) |
| Molecular Formula | C13H24N5O4Cu |
AHK-Cu binds copper(II) ions and delivers them to hair follicles and skin cells, stimulating VEGF production, enhancing dermal papilla cell proliferation, and promoting extracellular matrix remodeling. It activates signaling pathways involved in hair follicle cycling.
AHK-Cu (Alanine-Histidine-Lysine-Copper) is a copper-binding tripeptide that has gained attention for its hair growth-stimulating properties. While related to the well-known GHK-Cu peptide, AHK-Cu has been specifically studied for its effects on hair follicle biology. Research has shown that AHK-Cu can stimulate the…
AHK-Cu binds copper(II) ions and delivers them to hair follicles and skin cells, stimulating VEGF production, enhancing dermal papilla cell proliferation, and promoting extracellular matrix remodeling. It activates signaling pathways involved in hair follicle cycling.
Copper Peptide AHK-Cu is at the following stage in the published literature: Preclinical. All information is for research and educational purposes only.
Reported half-life: Topical (not systemically relevant).
Reported administration route in the literature: Topical. This is not a recommendation for human use.
Educational content, not medical advice. Effects described are drawn from cited research in study subjects.