GHK-Cu as a Multifunctional Copper Peptide: Synthesis Routes, Process Engineering and Emerging Applications

Plain-language summary

This comprehensive review examined the molecular mechanisms, production strategies, and emerging applications of GHK-Cu, finding that the peptide plays multifaceted biological roles in tissue repair, anti-inflammatory regulation, extracellular matrix remodeling, and redox homeostasis. The authors highlight GHK-Cu's evolution from a dermatological ingredient into a model system linking coordination chemistry and peptide bioactivity. The review also covers advances in scalable biomanufacturing approaches, including high-cell-density fermentation and copper complex stabilization.