How much bacteriostatic water to add to a 50 mg vial of GHK-Cu, and what concentration each volume gives. GHK-Cu is supplied in a larger vial mass than most peptides, so the numbers run higher than people expect. For any other vial size, use the Peptide Reconstitution Calculator.
Concentration by water volume
| Water added | Concentration | Peptide in 0.1 mL (10 units) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 mL | 25 mg/mL | 2.5 mg |
| 3 mL | 16.7 mg/mL | 1.67 mg |
| 5 mL | 10 mg/mL | 1 mg |
Note that 5 mL is more than one 3 mL vial of bacteriostatic water, so that option needs two. A 50 mg vial has limited headspace, so check the total volume will fit before adding water; 3 mL is the most practical single-vial choice.
Why the solution is blue
GHK-Cu is the tripeptide glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine bound to a copper(II) ion. The copper complex is what gives the powder and the reconstituted solution their blue to violet colour. A blue solution is expected; a colourless one would suggest the copper is not present. A green, brown or cloudy solution is worth querying with your supplier before use.
Handling notes specific to GHK-Cu
- GHK-Cu dissolves readily. It rarely needs more than a gentle swirl.
- Copper complexes can be sensitive to light, so keep the reconstituted vial in its box or wrapped, at 4 °C.
- Avoid mixing with strong chelating agents or reducing agents in the same vial, which can strip or change the oxidation state of the copper.
- Because GHK is a short peptide, net peptide content differs from total solid mass by a proportionally large amount once the copper and counter-ion are accounted for. Check your Certificate of Analysis for the figure.
- Label the vial with the date and chosen concentration.
Supply
GHK-Cu 50mg is supplied as a lyophilised powder with CAS number, molecular formula and storage conditions on the product page. Dispatched same day from the UK on orders placed before 4pm, Monday to Friday.
Concentrations assume the vial contains the full labelled mass of peptide; see your Certificate of Analysis for net peptide content. Supplied for in vitro laboratory research use only. Not for human or veterinary use. Nothing on this page is dosing or medical advice.