What is AHK-Cu?
This page handles AHK-Cu reconstitution math: how much BAC water goes into an AHK-Cu vial, what concentration results, and how an amount you already have converts into units on a U-100 syringe. It never suggests an amount.
AHK-Cu is a copper complex of the tripeptide alanyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine. It is best known from cosmetic hair and skin care formulations, where it appears alongside other copper peptides. Research vials are sold as a freeze-dried powder, usually in 50 mg and 100 mg sizes. Like other copper peptides, the powder and the mixed solution are typically blue.
For the calculator, the only number that matters from the vial is the labeled mg of AHK-Cu. The other input is the water volume you record when mixing, so it helps to write the date, the volume added, and the resulting concentration on the vial as soon as it is reconstituted. If either number is wrong, every syringe reading after it is wrong too.
How AHK-Cu differs from GHK-Cu
AHK-Cu and GHK-Cu are easy to confuse because they share two of three amino acids, carry copper, and come in the same vial sizes. They are still different compounds, and their labels are not interchangeable.
| AHK-Cu | GHK-Cu | |
|---|---|---|
| Peptide | Alanine–histidine–lysine | Glycine–histidine–lysine |
| First amino acid | Alanine | Glycine |
| Best known from | Hair and skin care formulations | Skincare; first described in human plasma |
| Common research vials | 50 mg, 100 mg | 50 mg, 100 mg |
Because the vial sizes match, the syringe-units math is identical for the same mg and water volume. What changes is the compound, so enter the numbers from the label you actually hold. If your vial says GHK-Cu, use the GHK-Cu dosage calculator instead.
How much BAC water for an AHK-Cu vial?
There is no single correct volume. Less water makes a stronger solution with more micrograms in each syringe unit; more water makes a weaker one that is easier to read at small amounts. Because AHK-Cu vials hold a large amount of powder, micrograms per unit run high, especially for a 100 mg vial with little water. The chart shows micrograms per U-100 unit for both common sizes.
| BAC water | 50 mg vial | 100 mg vial |
|---|---|---|
| 2 mL | 250 mcg/unit 25 mg/mL | 500 mcg/unit 50 mg/mL |
| 3 mL | 166.67 mcg/unit 16.667 mg/mL | 333.33 mcg/unit 33.333 mg/mL |
| 4 mL | 125 mcg/unit 12.5 mg/mL | 250 mcg/unit 25 mg/mL |
| 5 mL | 100 mcg/unit 10 mg/mL | 200 mcg/unit 20 mg/mL |
Each cell shows mcg per unit on a U-100 syringe (100 units = 1 mL) and the resulting concentration.
Read across a row to compare vial sizes at the same water volume, or down a column to see the effect of adding more water. For the general method, see the BAC water to peptide ratio guide.
AHK-Cu 50 mg and 100 mg reconstitution: worked example
The math is three steps: vial mg ÷ water mL = mg per mL; amount ÷ concentration = mL; and mL × 100 = U-100 units. For a 100 mg vial, for example, if the amount you already have is 900 mcg:
The math: 100 mg ÷ 4 mL = 25 mg/mL (25,000 mcg/mL), which is 250 mcg per unit. 900 mcg ÷ 25,000 mcg/mL = 0.036 mL = 3.6 units on a U-100 syringe.
For AHK-Cu 50 mg reconstitution with half the water, for example, if the amount you already have is the same 900 mcg:
The math: 50 mg ÷ 2 mL = 25 mg/mL (25,000 mcg/mL), which is 250 mcg per unit. 900 mcg ÷ 25,000 mcg/mL = 0.036 mL = 3.6 units on a U-100 syringe.
The results match because halving both the powder and the water leaves the concentration unchanged. What matters is the ratio of mg to mL, not either number alone. The U-100 syringe units to mL chart shows how units map to mL on any U-100 syringe.
AHK-Cu calculator: what the numbers mean
The chart and the AHK-Cu calculator on this page convert numbers; they do not set any amount. You enter the vial size, the water volume, and an amount you already have, and the tool returns the concentration, the liquid volume, and the syringe units. No row in the chart is a recommendation, and nothing here addresses amount, schedule, or route. Those belong to the product labeling and a qualified professional. To confirm a result by hand, use the peptide calculator math check.
The most common error with large copper-peptide vials is a unit mix-up: entering mcg where the label reads mg moves every result by a factor of 1,000. Check the unit beside each number before trusting the output.
AHK-Cu reconstitution notes and status
Supplier material for AHK-Cu tends to repeat a few points:
- Color. Some suppliers note that dissolved AHK-Cu is blue from the copper. Cloudiness or particles are a reason to contact the supplier.
- Large powder mass. A 100 mg AHK-Cu vial holds a lot of powder, and some suppliers specify a minimum water volume so it dissolves fully.
- Solvent and storage. AHK-Cu vials are commonly listed for bacteriostatic water, and some suppliers specify refrigeration after mixing. The label takes priority over any general guide.
AHK-Cu is not an FDA-approved drug. Research-labeled vials are not approved medicines, and their identity, purity, and sterility depend entirely on the supplier. A correct calculation cannot confirm any of those things.
AHK-Cu FAQ
Is AHK-Cu the same as GHK-Cu?
No. Both are copper tripeptides, but AHK-Cu starts with alanine and GHK-Cu starts with glycine. They are separate compounds, so use the calculator that matches the name on your vial.
How much BAC water do you add to a 100 mg AHK-Cu vial?
There is no single correct volume. More water gives fewer micrograms per syringe unit, less water gives more. Some suppliers specify a minimum volume for large vials, and the product label takes priority.
Does this page give an AHK-Cu dose?
No. It converts an amount you already have into concentration, mL, and U-100 syringe units. Amount, schedule, and route belong to the product labeling and a qualified professional.
Why is AHK-Cu solution blue?
The copper bound to the peptide gives the powder and the mixed solution a blue color. Cloudiness, particles, or an unexpected color are reasons to contact the supplier.