Effect of Cu- nanoparticles and Ionization Radiation on Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH)

This study investigates the effect of copper nanoparticles (Cu-NPs), synthesized via a green method, on the activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) enzyme in blood samples from cancer patients, both in vivo and in vitro, under varying doses of X-ray irradiation. LDH, a key enzyme in glucose metabolism, showed significant activity elevation at initial irradiation doses (2.5, 5, and 7.5 Gy), suggesting increased cellular stress and damage. However, at higher doses (10 and 15 Gy), a reduction in LDH activity was observed in vivo, possibly reflecting the destruction of cancer cells responsible for the enzyme’s release. Cu-NPs alone significantly reduced LDH levels by up to 36%, indicating their cytotoxic potential and interference with enzyme functionality. Interestingly, when Cu-NPs were combined with radiation, LDH activity increased again—though remaining below control levels—implying radiation-induced changes in the nanoparticles' structure and reactivity. These findings support the dual use of Cu-NPs and radiation to modulate LDH activity and potentially suppress cancer metabolism, while highlighting the differences between in vivo and in vitro environments in response to treatment.