Assessment of modified rice husk powder/ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) nanocomposites for biomedical applications

The nanocomposite of nano rice husk powder (nRHP)–ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) was prepared from modified nRHP and EPDM with different formulations containing 0–100 parts of modified nRHP per 100 parts of EPDM using curing process and laboratory size two roll mill. The surface of nRHP was modified by grafting MA‐g‐EPDM copolymer on its surface to enhance the compatibility between nRHP and EPDM. MA‐g‐EPDM copolymer was successfully prepared by melt method. The effect of filler (nRHP) loading on the mechanical and morphological properties of the modified nRHP–EPDM nanocomposites was investigated compared to the unmodified nRHP–EPDM nanocomposites (blank). Successive study was carried out on the nRHP–EPDM nanocomposites by means of human gingival fibroblast (HGF) as a fine source of human cell lines to test the cytotoxicity of the prepared nanocomposites by using 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2, 5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT). The in vitro study indicated that the prepared nanocomposites were non‐toxic for HGF and could be developed for future medical uses. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:E500–E507, 2018. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers