AHK-CU Copper Peptide Premium Anti-Wrinkle Cosmetic Raw Material

1. Description

AHK-Cu is a bioactive complex formed by the chelation of a tripeptide composed of alanine, histidine, and lysine with copper ions; it belongs to the copper peptide family. It appears as a blue powder. It is soluble in water and should be stored at 2–8°C in a light-protected, sealed container. This compound is a structural analog of the tripeptide glycyl-histidyl-lysine, which occurs naturally in human plasma. It exerts biological effects through the interaction of copper ions with specific amino acid residues and participates in collagen synthesis, extracellular matrix remodeling, and tissue repair processes.

2. Application

(1) Skin Care and Anti-Aging Research: Used in the development of functional skincare products designed to firm the skin, reduce wrinkles, and improve skin elasticity and density; can be incorporated into products such as eye creams, face creams, serums, and face masks.

(2) Hair Growth Research: Used in the development of hair care products designed to stimulate hair follicle activity, promote hair growth, and reduce hair loss; research indicates it can extend the anagen phase of hair follicles and reduce hair follicle cell apoptosis.

(3) Wound Healing and Tissue Repair Research: Research aimed at promoting re-epithelialization of acute skin wounds and accelerating tissue repair, achieved by stimulating fibroblast proliferation and collagen deposition.

(4) Inflammation and Skin Barrier Research: Used to investigate mechanisms related to anti-inflammatory activity, improvement of skin sensitivity, and restoration of skin barrier function.

(5) Basic Research Applications: As a tissue remodeling activator, it is used in research areas such as extracellular matrix metabolism, regulation of collagen synthesis, and antioxidant defense mechanisms.

3. Main Efficacy

(1) Promotes fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis: Stimulates the proliferation and vitality of dermal fibroblasts, increasing the synthesis of type I collagen. In vitro studies show that AHK-Cu treatment can increase collagen formation by more than 300%. By promoting the production of collagen, elastin, and glycosaminoglycans, it maintains the structural integrity and elasticity of the skin.

(2) Promotes hair growth: Within a concentration range of 10⁻¹² to 10⁻⁹ M, it stimulates the elongation of human hair follicles and the proliferation of dermal papilla cells. It reduces hair follicle cell apoptosis by increasing the Bcl-2/Bax ratio and decreasing the cleavage levels of caspase-3 and PARP. This effect may be achieved through a dual mechanism of promoting hair follicle cell proliferation and inhibiting apoptosis.

(3) Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects: By stabilizing the active forms of copper ions, it supports the function of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, thereby protecting cells from oxidative damage. It inhibits the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, regulates inflammatory responses, and alleviates skin irritation and redness.

(4) Promotion of Wound Healing and Tissue Repair: It stimulates the migration of fibroblasts and endothelial cells to wound sites, promotes angiogenesis, and accelerates the restoration of blood supply to damaged tissues. It also promotes the synthesis of extracellular matrix proteins, providing support for tissue regeneration.

(5) Cell protection and anti-apoptotic effects: Reduces cell apoptosis by regulating the expression of Bcl-2 family proteins and lowering the cleavage levels of caspase-3 and PARP. Protects cells from oxidative stress damage and maintains cellular vitality.

(6) Skin barrier repair: Promotes the proliferation and differentiation of keratinocytes, enhances skin barrier function, and improves skin hydration and resistance to external stimuli.