# GHK-Cu Research Concentrations and Dosage Context | Clinic GHK-Cu

> Concentrations studied in published research, pharmacokinetics, and routes of administration. This page contains no human dosing recommendations.

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## Research Concentrations

**This page summarizes concentrations used in published peer-reviewed research only. It does not constitute dosing guidance for human use.**

The following table reflects concentration ranges used across the published GHK-Cu literature:

| Study type | Concentration range | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Cell culture (fibroblasts) | 0.1 nM – 10 µM | Maquart 1988; Simeon 2000 |
| Cell culture (dermal papilla) | 1 nM – 1 µM | Pickart & Margolina 2018 |
| Animal wound model (topical) | 0.1% – 1.0% w/v formulations | Wang 2017; Lee 2023 |
| Animal model (systemic) | 0.5 – 5 mg/kg (various) | Multiple models |
| Human RCT (topical, combination) | Not disclosed (proprietary formulation) | Lee 2016 |
| Human skin pharmacokinetic trial | Under investigation | NCT07437586 (ongoing) |

Concentrations are provided for literature reference only. Significant variation exists across models, formulations, and study endpoints. No concentration range in the table above should be interpreted as a recommendation for human use.

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## Pharmacokinetics

Human pharmacokinetic data for GHK-Cu are limited. What the literature establishes:

**Endogenous concentrations:**
- Young adult plasma: approximately 200 ng/mL
- Age 60 plasma: approximately 80 ng/mL
- This ~60% decline tracks with multiple markers of aging in longitudinal cohort data

**Topical pharmacokinetics (preclinical):**
- GHK-Cu's molecular weight (~340 Da free peptide, ~403.92 Da with Cu) places it at the lower boundary of passive transcutaneous permeation
- Ogorek et al. (2025) noted that quantitative measurement of skin permeation for GHK-Cu is technically challenging due to copper chelation effects on standard HPLC-MS assays
- Liposomal and ionic liquid microemulsion formulations improve penetration in ex vivo porcine skin models (Liu 2023)

**Registered human trial:**
NCT07437586 (ongoing as of 2026) is the first registered human pharmacokinetic study for topical GHK-Cu. It is evaluating bioavailability and safety in healthy adult volunteers. Results are not yet published.

Sources:
- Ogorek K, et al. Molecules. 2025;30(1):136. PMID: 39795193.
- Liu T, et al. Bioactive Materials. 2023. PMID: 38026438.
- Mortazavi SM, et al. BioImpacts. 2024. PMID: 39963574.

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## Routes of Administration

Published research has studied GHK-Cu via the following routes:

| Route | Evidence base | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Topical (aqueous) | Multiple in vitro + clinical (Lee 2016) | Most studied; absorption limited without carrier |
| Topical (liposomal) | Wang 2017; Ogorek 2025 | Improved penetration in wound models |
| Topical (ionic liquid microemulsion) | Liu 2023 | Emerging delivery platform; ex vivo data only |
| Topical (hydrogel) | Lee 2023 | Wound healing model; nanofiber embedding |
| Injected (animal studies only) | Multiple wound and aging models | No registered human injection trials found |

There is no published peer-reviewed evidence of oral GHK-Cu bioavailability in humans. The tripeptide is expected to undergo rapid degradation in the gastrointestinal tract; this has not been formally studied.

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## Disclaimer

For research purposes only. Not for human consumption. This site does not sell any product.

A peer-reviewed reading room for the GHK-Cu literature — editorial summaries, not clinical guidance.

© 2026 Clinic GHK-Cu. All content is editorial commentary on publicly available peer-reviewed research.