AHK-Cu
Copper Tripeptide for Hair-Follicle & Dermal Papilla Research
AHK-Cu — Alanyl-Histidyl-Lysine Copper(II) Complex
Last reviewed: September 2026
AHK-Cu is a three-amino-acid peptide bound to copper, closely related to GHK-Cu. It is sold for hair. The support is one 2007 laboratory study in which human hair follicles kept alive in a dish grew longer and the cells at the follicle base multiplied faster when AHK-Cu was added.
In that study it raised VEGF (a blood-vessel growth signal), lowered TGF-β1 (a signal that ends the hair growth phase) and reduced markers of cell death in dermal papilla cells.
Copper peptides are among the few cosmetic-adjacent peptides with a defined biochemical role, and hair-follicle organ culture is a respected model. It is a reasonable research lead.
One ex-vivo study, no animal efficacy study, no human trial. Most online claims about AHK-Cu borrow GHK-Cu's evidence. Research-only.
What is AHK-Cu?
AHK-Cu is a copper complex of the tripeptide alanyl-histidyl-lysine — a smaller cousin of GHK-Cu that swaps the N-terminal glycine for alanine. It is marketed almost exclusively for hair, and the reason is a single ex-vivo/in-vitro study: in 2007 a Seoul National University group reported that the AHK-Cu complex lengthened human hair follicles in organ culture and increased dermal papilla cell proliferation at picomolar-to-nanomolar concentrations, with higher VEGF, lower TGF-β1 and a shift in the Bcl-2/Bax ratio.
That is close to the whole peer-reviewed record. Unlike GHK-Cu, which has decades of wound-healing and gene-expression literature, AHK-Cu has no in-vivo animal efficacy study and no human clinical trial in the indexed literature. Purgo Labs sells it as a 100mg research vial and also uses it in a copper-peptide shampoo.
- AHK-Cu is Ala-His-Lys chelating copper(II), a structural analogue of GHK-Cu (glycine → alanine at the N-terminus).
- The only peer-reviewed efficacy study (Pyo et al., 2007) showed follicle elongation and dermal papilla proliferation ex vivo at picomolar–nanomolar concentrations, with VEGF ↑, TGF-β1 ↓, Bcl-2/Bax ↑.
- No in-vivo animal efficacy study and no human clinical trial of AHK-Cu are indexed as of September 2026.
- Claims about wrinkles, wound healing or systemic effects are extrapolated from GHK-Cu, a different molecule.
- Purgo Labs sells AHK-Cu as a 100mg vial ($44.99, read 10 Sep 2026) and in an AHK-Cu + GHK-Cu shampoo.
Molecular Composition
AHK-Cu consists of the tripeptide Ala-His-Lys (354.4 Da) chelating a copper(II) ion through the histidine imidazole and the α-amino nitrogen, in the same coordination geometry GHK uses. The complex delivers copper in a bioavailable, low-toxicity form; copper is a cofactor for lysyl oxidase (collagen and elastin cross-linking), superoxide dismutase and cytochrome c oxidase. The lysine side chain is free and contributes to cell-surface binding. Supplied as a lyophilized powder for reconstitution.
How Does It Work?
AHK-Cu delivers copper via a tripeptide carrier and, in one 2007 human-follicle culture study, raised VEGF, lowered TGF-β1 and lengthened follicles — a plausible pro-anagen mechanism with no in-vivo or human confirmation.
The proposed mechanism follows the copper-peptide template established for GHK-Cu: the tripeptide carries Cu(II) into cells and the extracellular matrix, where copper acts as a cofactor for lysyl oxidase and antioxidant enzymes and modulates growth-factor expression. In the 2007 hair study, AHK-Cu treatment of cultured human dermal papilla cells increased proliferation, up-regulated VEGF (a driver of follicular angiogenesis and anagen maintenance), suppressed TGF-β1 (a catagen-inducing signal) and raised the Bcl-2/Bax ratio (anti-apoptotic), and human scalp follicles in organ culture grew longer over 10 days. Whether these effects reflect the peptide, the copper, or the complex specifically has not been dissected, and no receptor for AHK has been identified.
Key Research Pathways
Copper Delivery & Lysyl Oxidase
The tripeptide chelates Cu(II) and delivers it to tissue, where copper is a cofactor for collagen/elastin cross-linking and antioxidant enzymes.
VEGF Up-regulation
Increased VEGF in dermal papilla cells supports perifollicular angiogenesis, associated with anagen maintenance.
TGF-β1 Suppression
TGF-β1 signals the anagen-to-catagen transition; lowering it is consistent with prolonged growth phase in follicle culture.
Bcl-2/Bax Anti-Apoptotic Shift
A higher Bcl-2/Bax ratio in dermal papilla cells indicates reduced apoptosis, one route to follicle survival.
Key Findings from the Literature
- AHK-Cu stimulated elongation of human hair follicles in organ culture and increased dermal papilla cell proliferation at 10⁻¹²–10⁻⁹ M (Pyo et al., Arch Pharm Res 2007; PMID 17703734)
- In the same study, AHK-Cu increased VEGF, decreased TGF-β1 and raised the Bcl-2/Bax ratio in dermal papilla cells — a pro-anagen, anti-apoptotic signature
- AHK-Cu shares its copper-coordination chemistry with GHK-Cu, whose wound-healing and gene-expression literature is far larger (Pickart & Margolina, Int J Mol Sci 2018)
- No in-vivo animal efficacy study and no human clinical trial of AHK-Cu appear in the indexed literature as of September 2026
Important Research Context
Research References
Peer-reviewed literature supporting the research profile of AHK-Cu
The following peer-reviewed studies form the primary evidence base for AHK-Cu's research profile. All references are sourced from PubMed, NCBI, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Published research is available through PubMed, NCBI, and peer-reviewed biomedical journals.
- 1.
Pyo HK, et al. The effect of tripeptide-copper complex on human hair growth in vitro. Archives of Pharmacal Research. 2007.PMID: 17703734
AHK-Cu stimulated human hair follicle elongation ex vivo and dermal papilla cell proliferation, with increased VEGF, decreased TGF-β1 and a higher Bcl-2/Bax ratio.
- 2.
Pickart L, Margolina A. Regenerative and protective actions of the GHK-Cu peptide in the light of the new gene data. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2018.PMID: 29986520
Review of GHK-Cu copper-peptide biology; the reference framework from which AHK-Cu's proposed mechanisms are borrowed.
AHK-Cu
Skin & Anti-Aging Research
Purgo Labs list price, read 12 Sep 2026 · per-lot COA on the vendor page
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Technical Specifications
| Peptide Class | Copper tripeptide complex (GHK-Cu analogue) |
| Sequence | Ala-His-Lys · Cu(II) |
| Molecular Weight | 354.4 Da peptide; ~417 Da complex |
| Proposed Targets | VEGF ↑, TGF-β1 ↓, Bcl-2/Bax ↑ in dermal papilla cells |
| Available Size | 100mg vial (3 mL) |
| Form | Lyophilized powder |
| Purity | ≥99% (third-party COA) |
| Human Evidence | None indexed |
Source AHK-Cu at Purgo Labs
≥99% purity · Third-party COA · Use code HEALTH for 20% off
Other Compounds in This Guide
Supporting Research
A single 2007 ex-vivo study supports pro-anagen effects of AHK-Cu on human hair follicles and dermal papilla cells. There is no in-vivo efficacy study and no human trial.
References
- Pyo HK, et al.EX VIVO — human follicle cultureArchives of Pharmacal Research. 2007. PubMedFollicle elongation and dermal papilla proliferation with AHK-Cu.
Research Databases
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