Pair page
GHK Basic with Matrixyl
Mechanism-tag overlap and published literature for GHK Basic and Matrixyl, pulled verbatim from each Kalios compound profile. Kalios is a literature reference, not a recommendation.
Mechanism overlap
Mechanism tags are verbatim labels on each compound's profile. Generic tags ("peptide", "small-molecule", "research-chemical") are excluded from this overlap view. Tags are descriptive — not an inference about combined effect.
matrikine-cosmetic-signaling-peptidetripeptide
collagen-signal-peptidecosmetic-peptide
Co-administration notes from the literature
Verbatim summary text pulled from each compound's profile data. Researchers studying GHK Basic and Matrixyl have published these mechanism-level observations. Not a co-administration recommendation.
A different matrikine peptide (palmitoyl-pentapeptide-4) that stimulates fibroblast collagen synthesis. Used together in cosmetic formulations on the logic that different matrikines engage complementary fibroblast signaling pathways.
Quick facts
GHK Basic
Matrixyl
Literature table
Classified references from each compound profile. Click a column header to sort. Click a PMID to open PubMed. Findings are quoted verbatim from each profile's literature_summary; nothing here is added or interpreted.
| Year | Compound | Source | Finding |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | GHK Basic | Choi HR, Kang YA, Ryoo SJ, Shin JW, Na JI, Huh CH, Park KC. Stem cell recovering effect of copper-free GHK in skin. J Pept Sci. 2012;18(11):685-690. doi:10.1002/psc.2455. (Key paper for copper-free GHK: stem-cell preservation in human skin equivalents without copper coordination… | human study |
| 2011 | GHK Basic | Hostynek JJ, Dreher F, Maibach HI. Human skin penetration of a copper tripeptide in vitro as a function of skin layer. Inflamm Res. 2011;60(1):79-86. PMID: 20835751. (Topical penetration data — relevant to cosmetic copper-free formulations.) PMID 20835751 | preclinical, in vitro |
| 1988 | GHK Basic | Maquart FX, Pickart L, Laurent M, Gillery P, Monboisse JC, Borel JP. Stimulation of collagen synthesis in fibroblast cultures by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu²⁺. FEBS Lett. 1988;238(2):343-346. PMID: 3169264. (Foundational collagen-stimulation paper… PMID 3169264 | preclinical, in vitro |
| 2017 | GHK Basic | Pickart L, Vasquez-Soltero JM, Margolina A. The Effect of the Human Peptide GHK on Gene Expression Relevant to Nervous System Function and Cognitive Decline. Brain Sci. 2017;7(2):20. PMID: 28212278. PMID 28212278 | mechanism / discovery |
| 2008 | GHK Basic | Beretta G, Arlandini E, Artali R, Anton JM, Maffei Facino R. Acrolein sequestering ability of the endogenous tripeptide glycyl-histidyl-lysine (GHK): characterization of conjugation products by ESI-MSn and theoretical calculations. J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2008;47(3):596-602. | mechanism / discovery |
| 1973 | GHK Basic | Pickart L, Thaler MM. Tripeptide in human serum which prolongs survival of normal liver cells and stimulates growth in neoplastic liver. Nat New Biol. 1973;243(124):85-87. PMID: 4351857. (Original isolation of GHK from human plasma.) PMID 4351857 | mechanism / discovery |
| 2026 | GHK Basic | WADA Prohibited List 2026. World Anti-Doping Agency. wada-ama.org. | regulatory / registry |
| 2025 | GHK Basic | FDA. Bulk Drug Substances Nominated for Use in Compounding — 503A and 503B Categories. FDA.gov. Updated 2025-2026. | regulatory / registry |
| 2018 | GHK Basic | Pickart L, Margolina A. Regenerative and Protective Actions of the GHK-Cu Peptide in the Light of the New Gene Data. Int J Mol Sci. 2018;19(7):1987. PMID: 29986520. (Comprehensive modern review; notes copper-dependent vs copper-independent activities.) PMID 29986520 | research article |
| 2015 | GHK Basic | Pickart L, Vasquez-Soltero JM, Margolina A. GHK Peptide as a Natural Modulator of Multiple Cellular Pathways in Skin Regeneration. Biomed Res Int. 2015;2015:648108. PMID: 26236730. PMID 26236730 | research article |
| 2012 | GHK Basic | Pickart L, Vasquez-Soltero JM, Margolina A. The human tripeptide GHK-Cu in prevention of oxidative stress and degenerative conditions of aging. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2012;2012:324832. PMID: 22666521. PMID 22666521 | research article |
| 2012 | GHK Basic | Trapaidze A, Hureau C, Bal W, Winterhalter M, Faller P. Thermodynamic study of Cu²⁺ binding to the DAHK and GHK peptides by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) with the weaker competitor glycine. J Biol Inorg Chem. 2012;17(1):37-47. PMID: 21748269. (Quantifies the very high c… PMID 21748269 | research article |
| 2009 | Matrixyl | Gorouhi F, Maibach HI. Role of topical peptides in preventing or treating aged skin. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2009;31(5):327-345. PMID: 19570099. (UCSF Dermatology systematic review of topical peptides for aged skin, including Pal-KTTKS signal-peptide class.) PMID 19570099 | systematic review |
| 2010 | Matrixyl | Fu JJ, Hillebrand GG, Raleigh P, Li J, Marmor MJ, Bertucci V, Grimes PE, Mandy SH, Perez MI, Weinkle SH, Kaczvinsky JR. A randomized, controlled comparative study of the wrinkle reduction benefits of a cosmetic niacinamide/peptide/retinyl propionate product regimen vs. a prescri… PMID 20374604 | human trial |
| 2024 | Matrixyl | Vitali A, Paolicelli P, Bigi B, Trilli J, Di Muzio L, Carriero VC, Casadei MA, Petralito S. Liposome Encapsulation of the Palmitoyl-KTTKS Peptide: Structural and Functional Characterization. Pharmaceutics. 2024;16(2):219. PMID: 38399273. (Liposomal delivery system for Pal-KTTKS… PMID 38399273 | preclinical, in vitro |
| 2017 | Matrixyl | Park H, An E, Cho Lee AR. Effect of Palmitoyl-Pentapeptide (Pal-KTTKS) on Wound Contractile Process in Relation with Connective Tissue Growth Factor and α-Smooth Muscle Actin Expression. Tissue Eng Regen Med. 2017;14(1):73-80. PMID: 30603464. (CTGF / α-SMA modulation and fibrobl… PMID 30603464 | preclinical, in vitro |
| 2014 | Matrixyl | Choi YL, Park EJ, Kim E, Na DH, Shin YH. Dermal Stability and In Vitro Skin Permeation of Collagen Pentapeptides (KTTKS and palmitoyl-KTTKS). Biomol Ther (Seoul). 2014;22(4):321-327. PMID: 25143811. (Demonstrates palmitoylation as stability and permeation enhancer relative to un… PMID 25143811 | preclinical, in vitro |
| 2013 | Matrixyl | Jones RR, Castelletto V, Connon CJ, Hamley IW. Collagen stimulating effect of peptide amphiphile C16-KTTKS on human fibroblasts. Mol Pharm. 2013;10(3):1063-1069. PMID: 23320752. (Direct fibroblast collagen-production dose-response for Pal-KTTKS linked to critical-aggregation-con… PMID 23320752 | preclinical, in vitro |
| 2019 | Matrixyl | Tałałaj U, Uscinowicz P, Bruzgo I, Surazynski A, Zareba I, Markowska A. The Effects of a Novel Series of KTTKS Analogues on Cytotoxicity and Proteolytic Activity. Molecules. 2019;24(20):3698. PMID: 31618846. (Structure-activity series of KTTKS analogues with acetyl / lipoyl / pa… PMID 31618846 | mechanism / discovery |
| 2019 | Matrixyl | Mortazavi SM, Kobarfard F, Maibach HI, Moghimi HR. Effect of Palmitic Acid Conjugation on Physicochemical Properties of Peptide KTTKS: A Preformulation Study. J Cosmet Sci. 2019;70(6):299-312. PMID: 31829923. (Physicochemical characterization of palmitoyl conjugation effects on… PMID 31829923 | mechanism / discovery |
| 2007 | Matrixyl | Lupo MP, Cole AL. Cosmeceutical peptides. Dermatol Ther. 2007;20(5):343-349. PMID: 18045359. (Updated Dermatologic Therapy review of signal, neurotransmitter-affecting, and carrier peptides.) PMID 18045359 | review |
| 2005 | Matrixyl | Osborne R, Mullins L, Jarrold B, Lintner K. In vitro skin structure benefits with a new antiaging peptide, Pal-KT. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2005;52(3 Suppl):P34. (AAD-meeting abstract on Pal-KT / Pal-KTTKS cosmetic evaluation; Procter & Gamble / Sederma collaboration.) | industry documentation |
| 2009 | Matrixyl | Trookman NS, Rizer RL, Ford R, Ho E, Gotz V. Immediate and Long-term Clinical Benefits of a Topical Treatment for Facial Lines and Wrinkles. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2009;2(3):38-43. PMID: 20729942. (8-week topical treatment clinical study including palmitoyl pentapeptide active… PMID 20729942 | research article |
| 2005 | Matrixyl | Robinson LR, Fitzgerald NC, Doughty DG, Dawes NC, Berge CA, Bissett DL. Topical palmitoyl pentapeptide provides improvement in photoaged human facial skin. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2005;27(3):155-160. PMID: 18492182. (The 93-subject 12-week split-face vehicle-controlled RCT of 3 ppm Pa… PMID 18492182 | research article |
Related pair pages
More research context
Frequently asked
Have GHK Basic and Matrixyl been studied together?
Researchers have published mechanistic-level co-administration discussion of GHK Basic and Matrixyl. No human co-administration trials are catalogued in the Kalios profiles. The pair page lists each compound's classified literature; full citations sit on each individual profile.
What mechanisms do GHK Basic and Matrixyl share?
GHK Basic and Matrixyl do not share a specific mechanism tag on their Kalios profiles. They appear on the same pair page because at least one profile lists the other in its co-administration data.
What is the FDA status of GHK Basic and Matrixyl?
GHK Basic: Cosmetic ingredient only. Matrixyl: Cosmetic ingredient (not a drug). FDA-status text is pulled verbatim from each compound profile. See /fda-pcac-2026.html for the broader FDA Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee context.
Where can I find the full research on GHK Basic and Matrixyl?
Full citation lists, dosing tables from the literature, reconstitution data, and the FDA / WADA status are on the individual compound profiles: the GHK Basic profile and the Matrixyl profile. The Kalios Stack Research Tool hub lists every compound covered.
Last updated: April 2026