Thermoresponsive poly(poly(ethylene glycol) methylacrylate)s grafted cellulose nanocrystals through SI-ATRP polymerization

We report a series of thermoresponsive cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) decorated with poly(poly(ethylene glycol) methylacrylate) copolymers (poly(PEGMA)- g -CNCs) synthesized by surface initiated-atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP). The chemical structures and surface morphologies were subsequently confirmed by FT-IR, XPS, and AFM measurements. With regard to thermally responsive behavior, poly(PEGMA)- g -CNCs show tunable lower critical solution temperature (LCST) values in the range of 34–66 °C by varying the feeding ratios of comonomers. The reversible morphological transformation from individual nano-rod structures to larger globule aggregates was further verified by AFM during the LCST transition. These functionalized CNCs have potential as smart film filters and biosensors.