Pair page
GHK-Cu with Tripeptide-29
Mechanism-tag overlap and published literature for GHK-Cu and Tripeptide-29, pulled verbatim from each Kalios compound profile. Kalios is a literature reference, not a recommendation.
Mechanism overlap
Mechanism tags are verbatim labels on each compound's profile. Generic tags ("peptide", "small-molecule", "research-chemical") are excluded from this overlap view. Tags are descriptive — not an inference about combined effect.
connective-tissuecopper-tripeptide-skin
cosmetic-collagen-fragment
Co-administration notes from the literature
Verbatim summary text pulled from each compound's profile data. Researchers studying GHK-Cu and Tripeptide-29 have published these mechanism-level observations. Not a co-administration recommendation.
The copper-bound tripeptide Gly-His-Lys is the most-studied cosmetic peptide in PubMed-indexed dermatology literature, with documented effects on dermal collagen and elastin synthesis, antioxidant signaling, and post-procedure recovery. Pairing GHK-Cu with Tripeptide-29 layers two structurally distinct tripeptide signals — the copper-bound GHK matrikine acting on multiple collagen and proteoglycan pathways, the Gly-Pro-Hyp acting as a collagen-fragment matrikine. Formulate at appropriate pH to preserve copper coordination on GHK-Cu.
Quick facts
GHK-Cu
Tripeptide-29
Literature table
Classified references from each compound profile. Click a column header to sort. Click a PMID to open PubMed. Findings are quoted verbatim from each profile's literature_summary; nothing here is added or interpreted.
| Year | Compound | Source | Finding |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | GHK-Cu | Buffoni F, Pino R, Dal Pozzo A. Effect of tripeptide-copper complexes on the process of healing of cutaneous wounds in mice. Arch Int Pharmacodyn Ther. 1995;330(3):345-360. PMID: 9060874. PMID 9060874 | preclinical, in vivo |
| 1993 | GHK-Cu | Maquart FX, Bellon G, Chaqour B, Wegrowski J, Patt LM, Trachy RE, et al. In vivo stimulation of connective tissue accumulation by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu²⁺ in rat experimental wounds. J Clin Invest. 1993;92(5):2368-2376. PMID: 8227353. PMID 8227353 | preclinical, in vivo |
| 2011 | GHK-Cu | Hostynek JJ, Dreher F, Maibach HI. Human skin penetration of a copper tripeptide in vitro as a function of skin layer. Inflamm Res. 2011;60(1):79-86. PMID: 20835751. PMID 20835751 | preclinical, in vitro |
| 2007 | GHK-Cu | Pyo HK, Yoo HG, Won CH, Lee SH, Kang YJ, Eun HC, Cho KH, Kim KH. The effect of tripeptide-copper complex on human hair growth in vitro. Arch Pharm Res. 2007;30(7):834-839. PMID: 17702486. PMID 17702486 | preclinical, in vitro |
| 1988 | GHK-Cu | Maquart FX, Pickart L, Laurent M, Gillery P, Monboisse JC, Borel JP. Stimulation of collagen synthesis in fibroblast cultures by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu²⁺. FEBS Lett. 1988;238(2):343-346. PMID: 3169264. PMID 3169264 | preclinical, in vitro |
| 2017 | GHK-Cu | Pickart L, Vasquez-Soltero JM, Margolina A. The Effect of the Human Peptide GHK on Gene Expression Relevant to Nervous System Function and Cognitive Decline. Brain Sci. 2017;7(2):20. PMID: 28212278. PMID 28212278 | mechanism / discovery |
| 2012 | GHK-Cu | Campbell JD, McDonough JE, Zeskind JE, Hackett TL, Pechkovsky DV, Brandsma CA, et al. A gene expression signature of emphysema-related lung destruction and its reversal by the tripeptide GHK. Genome Med. 2012;4(8):67. PMID: 22937864. PMID 22937864 | mechanism / discovery |
| 1973 | GHK-Cu | Pickart L, Thaler MM. Tripeptide in human serum which prolongs survival of normal liver cells and stimulates growth in neoplastic liver. Nat New Biol. 1973;243(124):85-87. PMID: 4351857. (Original discovery publication.) PMID 4351857 | mechanism / discovery |
| 2026 | GHK-Cu | WADA Prohibited List 2026. World Anti-Doping Agency. wada-ama.org. | regulatory / registry |
| 2025 | GHK-Cu | FDA. Bulk Drug Substances That Raise Significant Safety Risks (Category 2) Under Section 503A / 503B. FDA.gov. Updated 2025-2026. | regulatory / registry |
| 2018 | GHK-Cu | Pickart L, Margolina A. Regenerative and Protective Actions of the GHK-Cu Peptide in the Light of the New Gene Data. Int J Mol Sci. 2018;19(7):1987. PMID: 29986520. doi:10.3390/ijms19071987. (Comprehensive modern review.) PMID 29986520 | research article |
| 2015 | GHK-Cu | Pickart L, Vasquez-Soltero JM, Margolina A. GHK Peptide as a Natural Modulator of Multiple Cellular Pathways in Skin Regeneration. Biomed Res Int. 2015;2015:648108. PMID: 26236730. PMID 26236730 | research article |
| 2019 | Tripeptide-29 | Choi FD, Sung CT, Juhasz ML, Mesinkovsk NA. Oral Collagen Supplementation: A Systematic Review of Dermatological Applications. J Drugs Dermatol. 2019;18(1):9-16. PMID: 30681787. (Systematic review of 11 RCTs of oral collagen supplementation, 805 patients; includes 2 collagen tri… PMID 30681787 | systematic review |
| 2022 | Tripeptide-29 | Kim J, Lee SG, Lee J, Choi S, Suk J, Lee JH, Yang JH, Yang JS, Kim J. Oral Supplementation of Low-Molecular-Weight Collagen Peptides Reduces Skin Wrinkles and Improves Biophysical Properties of Skin: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Study. J Med Food. 2022;25(12)… PMID 36516059 | human trial |
| 2019 | Tripeptide-29 | Bolke L, Schlippe G, Gerß J, Voss W. A Collagen Supplement Improves Skin Hydration, Elasticity, Roughness, and Density: Results of a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Blind Study. Nutrients. 2019;11(10):2494. PMID: 31627309. doi: 10.3390/nu11102494. (Multi-ingredient nutricosmetic… PMID 31627309 | human trial |
| 2018 | Tripeptide-29 | Kim DU, Chung HC, Choi J, Sakai Y, Lee BY. Oral Intake of Low-Molecular-Weight Collagen Peptide Improves Hydration, Elasticity, and Wrinkling in Human Skin: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. Nutrients. 2018;10(7):826. doi: 10.3390/nu10070826. (Oral LMWCP prep… | human trial |
| 2015 | Tripeptide-29 | Asserin J, Lati E, Shioya T, Prawitt J. The effect of oral collagen peptide supplementation on skin moisture and the dermal collagen network: evidence from an ex vivo model and randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2015;14(4):291-301. PMID: 26362110.… PMID 26362110 | human trial |
| 2014 | Tripeptide-29 | Proksch E, Segger D, Degwert J, Schunck M, Zague V, Oesser S. Oral supplementation of specific collagen peptides has beneficial effects on human skin physiology: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2014;27(1):47-55. PMID: 23949208. doi: 10.1159/0003… PMID 23949208 | human trial |
| 2022 | Tripeptide-29 | Taga Y, Iwasaki Y, Shigemura Y, Mizuno K. Identification of a Highly Stable Bioactive 3-Hydroxyproline-Containing Tripeptide in Human Blood after Collagen Hydrolysate Ingestion. npj Sci Food. 2022;6(1):29. (Identification of Gly-3Hyp-4Hyp as a stable bioactive collagen tripeptid… | human study |
| 2017 | Tripeptide-29 | Hexsel D, Zague V, Schunck M, Siega C, Camargo FB Jr, Oesser S. Oral supplementation of specific bioactive collagen peptides reduces skin wrinkles and improves nail growth in women. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2017;16(4):520-526. PMID: 28786550. (Oral bioactive collagen peptides RCT in n… PMID 28786550 | human study |
| 2005 | Tripeptide-29 | Iwai K, Hasegawa T, Taguchi Y, Morimatsu F, Sato K, Nakamura Y, Higashi A, Kido Y, Nakabo Y, Ohtsuki K. Identification of food-derived collagen peptides in human blood after oral ingestion of gelatin hydrolysates. J Agric Food Chem. 2005;53(16):6531-6536. PMID: 16076145. doi: 10… PMID 16076145 | human study |
| 2020 | Tripeptide-29 | Asai TT, Yoshikawa K, Sawada K, Fukamizu K, Koyama YI, Shigemura Y, Jimi S, Sato K. Mouse skin fibroblasts with mesenchymal stem cell marker p75 neurotrophin receptor proliferate in response to prolyl-hydroxyproline. J Funct Foods. 2020;66:103792. (p75NTR-positive fibroblast sub… | preclinical, in vivo |
| 2019 | Tripeptide-29 | Asai TT, Oikawa F, Yoshikawa K, Inoue N, Sato K. Food-Derived Collagen Peptides, Prolyl-Hydroxyproline (Pro-Hyp), and Hydroxyprolyl-Glycine (Hyp-Gly) Enhance Growth of Primary Cultured Mouse Skin Fibroblast Using Fetal Bovine Serum Free from Hydroxyprolyl Peptide. Int J Mol Sci.… | preclinical, in vivo |
| 2016 | Tripeptide-29 | Sontakke SB, Jung JH, Piao Z, Chung HJ. Orally Available Collagen Tripeptide: Enzymatic Stability, Intestinal Permeability, and Absorption of Gly-Pro-Hyp and Pro-Hyp. J Agric Food Chem. 2016;64(38):7127-7133. PMID: 27573716. (Differential bioavailability of GPH vs Pro-Hyp; biotr… PMID 27573716 | preclinical, in vivo |
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Frequently asked
Have GHK-Cu and Tripeptide-29 been studied together?
Researchers have published mechanistic-level co-administration discussion of GHK-Cu and Tripeptide-29. No human co-administration trials are catalogued in the Kalios profiles. The pair page lists each compound's classified literature; full citations sit on each individual profile.
What mechanisms do GHK-Cu and Tripeptide-29 share?
GHK-Cu and Tripeptide-29 do not share a specific mechanism tag on their Kalios profiles. They appear on the same pair page because at least one profile lists the other in its co-administration data.
What is the FDA status of GHK-Cu and Tripeptide-29?
GHK-Cu: Cosmetic ingredient; Category 2 for injection. Tripeptide-29: Cosmetic ingredient (no premarket approval). FDA-status text is pulled verbatim from each compound profile. See /fda-pcac-2026.html for the broader FDA Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee context.
Where can I find the full research on GHK-Cu and Tripeptide-29?
Full citation lists, dosing tables from the literature, reconstitution data, and the FDA / WADA status are on the individual compound profiles: the GHK-Cu profile and the Tripeptide-29 profile. The Kalios Stack Research Tool hub lists every compound covered.
Last updated: April 2026