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Copper peptide AHK
Supply and ordering
Ask sales about AHK-Cu availability, order quantities, packaging, and batch documentation. Include other catalog items in the same inquiry if you are planning a combined or recurring order.
Overview
AHK-Cu is a copper-complexed tripeptide consisting of Ala-His-Lys (AHK) coordinated with divalent copper. It is the structural analog of the better-known GHK-Cu (Gly-His-Lys + Cu²⁺), with the N-terminal glycine replaced by alanine. The substitution shifts the molecule's affinity profile and downstream activity preference toward hair-follicle and scalp applications, AHK-Cu's primary use case in cosmetic formulation is hair-regrowth and follicular-stimulation serums rather than the broader dermal-repair indications that drive GHK-Cu use. PeptideXpo supplies AHK-Cu to a ≥99.0% HPLC purity specification. As with the rest of the copper-peptide class, the visible blue color of the lyophilized powder is the diagnostic visual check for intact Cu(II) coordination, color loss indicates copper dissociation. Every released lot comes with its batch COA covering peak-integration HPLC purity and mass-spec identity; copper-content verification by either atomic absorption or quantitative HPLC against a reference is available on request and listed on the COA when tested. Standard fill sizes are 50 mg and 100 mg lyophilized vials. The same formulation guardrails that apply to GHK-Cu apply here: avoid chelator-containing carrier systems, formulate at near-neutral pH, and place the copper peptide downstream of any reductive antioxidants in the finished product.
Who buys this, and why
Cosmetic-peptide buyers fall into two groups: established beauty / med-aesthetic brands extending an existing line, and OEM clients building a private-label catalog from scratch. The first group usually wants bulk active plus stability data in their existing carrier matrix; the second usually wants a finished formulation under their label. Both need INCI naming verified, regulator-specific safety files (CPNP for EU, FDA OTC monograph for US where relevant), and packaging-compatibility data.
Primary buyer fit: medical aesthetic clinics and med spas.
Specifications
Documentation available on request
Each picture is a low-resolution preview of a report's first page, with batch and report numbers covered. For the full, clear report, ask our sales team, naming the product and strength.
Batch COAAHK-Cu 20 mg
HPLC purity · MS identity
Batch COA
Full, clear copy from sales
Batch COAAHK-Cu 50 mg
HPLC purity · MS identity
Batch COA
Full, clear copy from sales
Batch COAAHK-Cu 100 mg
HPLC purity · MS identity
Batch COA
Full, clear copy from sales
Independent test fails? Full refund. How it works
Regulatory note
Sold as a cosmetic ingredient for use in finished products where the receiving formulator's regulatory framework permits. Finished-product safety, INCI compliance, claims substantiation, and notification (CPNP, FDA, etc.) remain the responsibility of the brand owner. SDS and INCI documentation available on request.
Selected literature
Frequently asked questions
Both are copper-tripeptide complexes with similar overall structure, but AHK-Cu (Ala-His-Lys) is preferentially used in hair-follicle and scalp finished products, while GHK-Cu (Gly-His-Lys) is preferentially used in dermal-repair and anti-aging finished products. The application-area split tracks differences in receptor-affinity and tissue-distribution data rather than fundamentally different mechanisms, both work through copper-dependent signaling in skin and follicular tissue. Brands developing combined scalp-plus-skin formulations sometimes incorporate both peptides; the two are mutually compatible in the same carrier system.
Published cosmetic formulations typically incorporate AHK-Cu at 0.1-1.0% finished-product mass for scalp serums, which is lower than typical GHK-Cu use levels in dermal-repair products because the scalp-tissue distribution kinetics are different. The peptide is most stable at slightly acidic pH (5.0-6.5) with chelator-free water, the same formulation guardrails as GHK-Cu. Brands developing finished hair serums should ask sales for the applicable batch COA and validate stability in their own carrier system. Any added copper-content method belongs in the written project scope; it is not required merely because the supplier is new.
Combining AHK-Cu with minoxidil in a finished topical product is mechanistically reasonable, minoxidil drives follicular vasodilation and prolonged anagen phase; AHK-Cu contributes copper-peptide-mediated signaling that targets different aspects of follicular biology. The formulation challenges are practical: minoxidil's typical formulation vehicle (propylene glycol + ethanol) can be aggressive on the AHK-Cu complex, and the topical pH (usually slightly acidic for minoxidil stability) is at the lower end of the AHK-Cu working range. Brands developing combination products should plan stability-compatibility testing in the finished carrier before scaling production. For the broader cosmetic-OEM workflow considerations, see our GHK-Cu formulation guide, the same principles apply to AHK-Cu.
Send any vial from your order to an independent laboratory of your choice. If the report shows the product does not meet the specification on its COA — purity below the stated minimum, or an identity that does not match — share the report with our sales team and we refund that product in full.
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