AHK-Cu

AHK-Cu (alanine-histidine-lysine copper complex) binds copper(II) with high affinity and delivers it to copper-dependent enzymes including lysyl oxidase (required for collagen and elastin crosslinking) and tyrosinase (involved in melanin production). In hair follicle biology, AHK-Cu promotes the proliferation of dermal papilla cells, increases follicular VEGF expression to improve scalp blood supply, and stimulates collagen IV synthesis in the basement membrane surrounding hair follicles. It has been studied alongside GHK-Cu as a complementary copper peptide with tissue-specific applications.