GHK-Cu Doctor

PLATE V — REFERENCES

The Citation List.

Every claim on this site can be traced to one of these sources. DOIs and source URLs accompany each entry.

Primary sources

The list below collects every source cited across the index, research, dosage, FAQ, about, and contact pages of this site. Entries are ordered by their first appearance in the text. PubMed Central, journal-page, and DOI links are provided where available. For older or paywalled sources, the most authoritative open-access summary is linked instead.

This archive prioritises peer-reviewed primary research and systematic reviews. Vendor blogs, unsourced advocacy pieces, and supplement-industry summaries were excluded from the citation list.

  1. 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;19(7):1987. ↗
  2. Campbell JD, McDonough JE, Zeskind JE, et al. A gene expression signature of emphysema-related lung destruction and its reversal by the tripeptide GHK. Genome Medicine. 2012;4(8):67. ↗
  3. Mao S, Huang J, Li J, et al. Exploring the beneficial effects of GHK-Cu on an experimental model of colitis and the underlying mechanisms. Frontiers in Pharmacology. 2025;16:1551843. ↗
  4. Chen H, Yang P, Xue P, et al. Food-Derived Tripeptide-Copper Self-Healing Hydrogel for Infected Wound Healing. Biomaterials Research. 2025;29:0139. ↗
  5. Adnan SB, et al. Exploring the Role of Tripeptides in Wound Healing and Skin Regeneration: A Comprehensive Review. International Journal of Medical Sciences. 2025;22(16):4175-4200. ↗
  6. Leyden JJ, Stephens T, Finkey MB, et al. Use of a copper-binding peptide in skin cosmetics (clinical evaluation of GHK-Cu cream over 12 weeks, n=67). Reported in Pickart & Margolina 2018 review. ↗
  7. Badenhorst T, Svirskis D, Wu Z. An anti-aging dermatologic formulation containing the copper peptide tripeptide-1 (GHK-Cu). Journal of Aging Science. 2016;4:166. ↗
  8. Bobyntsev II, Chernysheva OI, Dolgintsev ME, Smakhtin MY, Belykh AE. Influence of Gly-His-Lys peptide on anxiety-related behavior in rats. Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine. 2015;158(6):737-739. ↗
  9. Sever'yanova LA, Dolgintsev ME. Effects of Gly-His-Lys peptide and its analogs on aggressive behavior in rats. Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine. 2017;163(4):441-444. ↗
  10. Beretta G, Artali R, Maffei Facino R, et al. LDL oxidation studies referenced in Pickart & Margolina 2018, demonstrating complete suppression of Cu(2+)-dependent lipid peroxidation by GHK at micromolar concentrations. ↗
  11. Miller DM, Buettner GR, Aust SD. Iron-induced inhibition of tubulin polymerization: protection by glycyl-histidyl-lysine. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology. 1990;264:301-304. ↗
  12. Pickart L, Vasquez-Soltero JM, Margolina A. The Human Tripeptide GHK-Cu in Prevention of Oxidative Stress and Degenerative Conditions of Aging: Practical Use. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity. 2012;2012:324832. ↗
  13. Topical copper-peptide formulations in post-procedural skin recovery: 2024 multicenter clinical evaluation, summarized in Adnan 2025 review. ↗
  14. U.S. FDA. Confirmed removal of injectable GHK-Cu from Category 2 (April 2026); withdrawn 503A bulks list nominations; Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee consultation pending. ↗
  15. Pyo HK, Yoo HG, Won CH, et al. The effect of tripeptide-copper complex on human hair growth in vitro. Archives of Pharmacal Research. 2007;30(7):834-839. ↗
  16. Arul V, Kartha R, Jayakumar R. Glycyl histidyl lysine-Cu(II) chelate-loaded collagen films for accelerated wound healing in diabetic rats. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B. 2007;82(2):340-345. ↗
  17. Pickart L, Vasquez-Soltero JM, Margolina A. GHK Peptide as a Natural Modulator of Multiple Cellular Pathways in Skin Regeneration. BioMed Research International. 2015;2015:648108. ↗
  18. Tricho-test clinical evaluation of a topical GHK peptide complex (45 men, 6 months), reported in Pickart & Margolina 2018 review. ↗
  19. Pickart L, Margolina A. Skin Regenerative and Anti-Cancer Actions of Copper Peptides. Cosmetics. 2018;5(2):29. ↗
  20. Mortazavi SM, Mohammadi Vadoud SA, Moghimi HR. Topically applied GHK as an anti-wrinkle peptide: Advantages, problems and prospective. BioImpacts. 2025;15:30071. ↗
  21. Simeon A, Emonard H, Hornebeck W, Maquart FX. The tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+ stimulates matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression by fibroblast cultures. Life Sciences. 2000;67(18):2257-2265. ↗
  22. Endo T, Miyagi M, Ujiie A. Simultaneous determination of glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine and its metabolite, L-histidyl-L-lysine, in rat plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography with post-column derivatization. Journal of Chromatography B. 1997;692(1):37-42. ↗
  23. Hong M, Gui Y, Xu J, Zhao X, Jiang C, Zhao J, Xin X, Liu D, Tang X, Tang R, An F. Palmitoyl copper peptide and acetyl tyrosine complex enhances melanin production in both A375 and B16 cell lines. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 2025;750:151060. ↗
  24. Miller TR, Wagner JD, Baack BR, Eisbach KJ. Effects of topical copper tripeptide complex on CO2 laser-resurfaced skin. Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery. 2006;8(4):252-259. ↗
  25. Pickart L. The human tri-peptide GHK and tissue remodeling. Journal of Biomaterials Science, Polymer Edition. 2008;19(8):969-988. ↗