Master’s Thesis at Al-Nahrain College of Medicine Investigates the Anticancer Activity of a Plasma-Prepared Nanocomposite

On Monday, September 7, 2026, a Master’s thesis submitted by postgraduate student Yusra Qasim Matroud was discussed at the Department of Physiology and Medical Physics, College of Medicine, Al-Nahrain University. The thesis was entitled:

“In Vitro Assessment of the Anticancer Activity of Y₂O₃/AgO Nanocomposite Generated by Plasma-Assisted Eco-Friendly Technique”

The study aimed to develop an innovative and environmentally friendly method for synthesizing Y₂O₃/AgO nanocomposite using plasma interaction with eggplant peel extract (Solanum melongena L.) as a reducing and stabilizing agent. It also aimed to evaluate the in vitro anticancer activity of the synthesized nanocomposite against B-CPAP papillary thyroid cancer cells and compare its effects with those on normal Nthy-ori 3-1 cells.

The Y₂O₃/AgO nanocomposite was characterized using several techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and UV–Visible Spectroscopy (UV–Vis).

The XRD analysis demonstrated that the synthesized nanocomposite had a crystalline structure, with an average crystallite size of 9.82 nm. EDS analysis confirmed the presence of the constituent elements and the purity of the prepared sample. FE-SEM analysis revealed that the particles were predominantly quasi-spherical in shape, with a clear distribution over the surface. Meanwhile, TEM analysis confirmed the successful use of the plasma-assisted technique to synthesize spherical nanoparticles with an average size of 3.7 ± 1.276 nm.

FTIR analysis demonstrated the presence of functional groups associated with the surface of the nanocomposite. UV–Vis analysis showed a strong and broad absorption band at 319 nm, with an optical band gap of 4.01 eV.

Regarding the biological assessment, the cytotoxicity of the nanocomposite was evaluated using the MTT assay. The IC₅₀ value for normal Nthy-ori 3-1 cells was 30.78 µg/mL, whereas the nanocomposite exhibited greater anticancer activity against B-CPAP papillary thyroid cancer cells, with an IC₅₀ value of 16.14 µg/mL.

The findings demonstrated that the Y₂O₃/AgO nanocomposite synthesized using a plasma-assisted eco-friendly technique possesses promising anticancer activity against papillary thyroid cancer cells, suggesting its potential future application as a nanomaterial in cancer control and treatment.

According to the researcher’s knowledge, this study is among the first studies to investigate the use of plasma interaction with eggplant peel extract (Solanum melongena L.) for the synthesis of Y₂O₃/AgO nanocomposite and to evaluate its anticancer activity against papillary thyroid cancer.

The discussion committee consisted of:

• Prof. Dr. Sabah Nouri Mazhar – Chair

• Prof. Dr. Thanaa Rashid Abdul-Rahman – Member

• Asst. Prof. Dr. Ruwayda Abdul-Amir Mustafa – Member

• Prof. Dr. Rasha Subaih Ahmed – Member and Supervisor

• Asst. Prof. Dr. Raghad Saadoun Mohammed – Member and Supervisor

The thesis was successfully accepted with a grade of Excellence.

Media and Government Communication Division
College of Medicine – Al-Nahrain University