PEG-MGF vs GHK-Cu
Side-by-side comparison of PEG-MGF and GHK-Cu: mechanism, half-life, dose range, safety profile, and vendor pricing.
Price snapshot
PEG-MGF
GHK-Cu
PEG-MGF
PEG-MGF (Pegylated Mechano Growth Factor) is a synthetic, PEGylated form of Mechano Growth Factor (MGF) — an alternatively spliced variant of IGF-1 produced locally in muscle and other tissues in response to mechanical…
Lowest listed price: $39.00 across 1 listing
Full PEG-MGF profileGHK-Cu
GHK-Cu is the copper(II) complex of the tripeptide glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine, a molecule Pickart and Thaler first pulled out of human plasma in 1973. The free peptide (GHK, C14H24N6O4) weighs about 340.4 Da; bind it 1:1…
Lowest listed price: $34.99 across 7 listings
Full GHK-Cu profileSide-by-side comparison
| Attribute | PEG-MGF | GHK-Cu |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Performance | Skin, Hair & Aesthetics |
| Research Stage | Preclinical | Approved/marketed as a topical cosmetic ingredient (Copper tripeptide-1) with supporting small human studies. Injectable use is preclinical/off-label, research-use-only, with no human clinical trials. |
| Mechanism of Action | PEG-MGF is the PEGylated form of Mechano Growth Factor (MGF), a synthetic peptide corresponding to the C-terminal 24 amino acids of the unique E-domain of IGF-1Ec, an alternatively spliced variant of the IGF-1 gene expressed in skeletal muscle after mechanical… | GHK-Cu works mostly as a copper shuttle and a signaling peptide. It binds Cu(II) with high affinity (log K around 16.4, close to albumin's 16.2) and can supply or regulate copper for copper-dependent enzymes like SOD1, lysyl oxidase, cytochrome c oxidase, and… |
| Half-Life | Native MGF: very short (minutes) due to rapid proteolysis. PEG-MGF: PEGylation is intended to extend this substantially (community estimates up to roughly 1 day), but there are no published human pharmacokinetic data to confirm a specific value. | ~30-60 min (plasma; approximate legacy figure, no robust modern human PK study) |
| Typical Dose Range | 200 mcg | 200-500 mcg SC daily (community/RUO; no clinically established injectable dose) |
| Dosing Frequency | twice_weekly | Once daily subcutaneous; some run 5 days on / 2 days off. Topical: 1-2x daily to cleansed skin. |
| Administration | Subcutaneous, Intramuscular, Intravenous | Subcutaneous, Topical |
| Side Effects | — | Topical GHK-Cu is generally well tolerated; higher-concentration formulations (4-5%) raise the odds of irritation, redness, or stinging. Injectable use has no safety data from controlled trials; the main theoretical concern is copper accumulation with repeated… |
| Molecular Weight | Free MGF 24-aa peptide: approximately 2,867-2,868 Da (reported molecular formula ~C121H199N41O40). PEG-MGF is heavier: the conjugated polyethylene glycol adds a variable mass (commonly a few kDa) on top of the peptide, so total mass depends on the PEG used. | Free peptide (GHK): 340.38 Da (C14H24N6O4). Copper complex (GHK-Cu): 401.9 Da (C14H22CuN6O4, neutral 1:1 Cu(II) complex). |
| Common Vial Sizes | 2 | 50 mg, 100 mg |
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PEG-MGF: potential benefits
- Increases satellite-cell and myoblast proliferation, expanding the cell pool available for muscle repair (in vitro and animal studies)
- May accelerate muscle repair after exercise-induced damage or injury (preclinical)
- Pro-survival, anti-apoptotic signaling reported in muscle and other cell types (preclinical)
- Preclinical cytoprotection: MGF pretreatment improved cardiac function after experimental myocardial infarction (mechanism distinct from IGF-1R, NOT via fibroblast growth factor receptor)
- Preclinical neuroprotection during cerebral ischemia
- PEGylation is intended to extend native MGF's very short half-life to allow less frequent research dosing
GHK-Cu: potential benefits
- Stimulates type I collagen synthesis in human fibroblasts at low nanomolar-to-picomolar concentrations (PMID: 3169264)
- Increases glycosaminoglycans (dermatan/chondroitin sulfate) and upregulates decorin in wound models (PMID: 11121126)
- Modulates matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors, partially correcting the MMP-9/TIMP-1 imbalance in a smoke-induced emphysema model (PMID: 35936787)
- Drives tissue remodeling and chemoattracts macrophages, mast cells, and capillary cells to injury sites (PMID: 18644225)
- Modulates expression of ~4,000+ human genes via the Broad Institute Connectivity Map, including DNA-repair and antioxidant genes (PMID: 25302294)
- Increases stemness and proliferative potential of epidermal basal cells and keratinocytes (PMID: 23019153)
- Acts as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory copper regulator in the context of aging (PMID: 22666519)
- Broad skin-regeneration effects on collagen, proteoglycans, MMPs, and immune/endothelial cell recruitment (PMID: 26236730)
Frequently asked
What's the difference between PEG-MGF and GHK-Cu?
PEG-MGF is a performance that peg-mgf is the pegylated form of mechano growth factor (mgf), a synthetic peptide corresponding to the c-terminal 24 amino acids of the unique e-domain of igf-1ec, an alternatively…. GHK-Cu is a skin, hair & aesthetics that ghk-cu works mostly as a copper shuttle and a signaling peptide. it binds cu(ii) with high affinity (log k around 16.4, close to albumin's 16.2) and can supply or regulate copper…. The two differ in mechanism, half-life (Native MGF: very short (minutes) due to rapid proteolysis. PEG-MGF: PEGylation is intended to extend this substantially (community estimates up to roughly 1 day), but there are no published human pharmacokinetic data to confirm a specific value. vs ~30-60 min (plasma; approximate legacy figure, no robust modern human PK study)), and typical dose range.
Which has the longer half-life, PEG-MGF or GHK-Cu?
PEG-MGF has a half-life of Native MGF: very short (minutes) due to rapid proteolysis. PEG-MGF: PEGylation is intended to extend this substantially (community estimates up to roughly 1 day), but there are no published human pharmacokinetic data to confirm a specific value.. GHK-Cu has a half-life of ~30-60 min (plasma; approximate legacy figure, no robust modern human PK study). Longer half-lives generally mean less frequent dosing but slower on/off kinetics.
Which is cheaper, PEG-MGF or GHK-Cu?
Lowest listed price on BodyHackGuide: PEG-MGF from $39.00, GHK-Cu from $34.99. Prices are pulled from the vendor listings tracked on BHG and change frequently. See the compare tables on each compound page for the current set of offers.
Can you stack PEG-MGF and GHK-Cu?
Stacking depends on mechanism overlap, safety profile, and goals. PEG-MGF and GHK-Cu should only be stacked after reviewing each compound's individual protocol page, side effect profile, and any published interaction data. Use the BodyHackGuide stack builder for a structured review before combining research compounds.
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Before you buy PEG-MGF or GHK-Cu
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Research use only. BodyHackGuide is a research and price-comparison reference. The compounds discussed on this page are not approved by the FDA for human consumption and are sold strictly for laboratory research. Prices shown are pulled from vendor listings tracked on BHG and are subject to change. Every vendor is ranked on the same public, reproducible methodology. See editorial standards and affiliate disclosure.