Copper Tripeptide‑1 – The Multi‑Functional Signal Peptide for Wound Healing, Collagen Remodeling & Anti‑Aging
Product Overview:
Copper Tripeptide‑1 (GHK‑Cu) was first isolated from human plasma in 1973 and has since been recognised as a powerful tissue remodeling activator. It is a naturally occurring signal peptide that:
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Promotes the degradation of excessive collagen aggregates in scar tissue
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Stimulates synthesis of normal collagen, elastin, proteoglycans, and glycosaminoglycans
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Regulates cell growth, migration, and anti‑inflammatory / antioxidant responses
Free copper ions cannot easily penetrate the stratum corneum, but when chelated with GHK, the complex efficiently reaches the dermis. Maintaining peptide integrity and activity is critical for formulation success.
| Benefit | Description |
|---|---|
| 🔬 Collagen stimulation | In vitro: significant increase in fibroblast collagen production (24‑72h) |
| 🩹 Wound healing & scar reduction | Clinical: 6‑month treatment visibly improves scar appearance and repair |
| ✨ Anti‑wrinkle & firming | 12‑week facial study: improved skin tightness, reduced fine lines and roughness |
| 🧴 Anti‑inflammatory & antioxidant | Reduces inflammation, protects against oxidative damage |
| 🔄 Skin remodeling | Increases dermal matrix density, elasticity, and reduces pigmentation |
Proven Efficacy Data:
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Collagen synthesis (in vitro) – GHK‑Cu treated fibroblasts showed significantly higher collagen content compared to control at 24h, 48h, and 72h (SirCol assay).
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Wound healing & scar improvement (clinical) – Patients applied GHK‑Cu cream twice daily for 6 months. Treated sites showed faster healing, reduced scarring, and complete recovery at 6 months vs. control.
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Anti‑wrinkle effect (clinical) – 12 weeks of twice‑daily application resulted in visible reduction of wrinkles, increased skin firmness, decreased roughness, and improved hyperpigmentation (self‑assessment and computer imaging).
| Parameter | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| INCI Name | Copper Tripeptide‑1 |
| Appearance | Blue powder or solution (blue colour characteristic of copper complex) |
| Recommended dosage | 3‑5% of a 2000 ppm stock solution |
| pH stability | Optimal at pH 5‑7 – acidic conditions destabilise the copper complex |
| Temperature | Add to formulation at <40 °C (cool‑down phase) |
| Incompatibilities | Avoid strong oxidising agents, chelators (e.g., EDTA) – will degrade and cause colour change from blue to green |
| Penetration | Higher pH increases skin penetration; protect peptide integrity |
Applications:
Anti‑aging serums & creams, scar repair gels, post‑laser / post‑procedure care, eye contour treatments, firming lotions, and wound healing formulations.
Available grades:
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Topical grade
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Injectable grade (for advanced professional use)
