Living/controlled Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP) is one of the most advanced techniques for synthesis of well defined polymeric materials. If the initiator in ATRP is attached to a substrate, polymer chains covalently bonded to the surface can be obtained. Such end-grafted macromolecules form polymer brushes with relatively high grafting densities. The grafted brushes are suitable for (surface) property modification and to engineer specific property such as wetting, colloidal stability, adhesion, friction or adsorptivity, etc.

Cellulose fibers are important renewable resources which are use in a myriad of applications including non-food, paper, textiles and composites . We have performed chemical functionalization of cellulose to bring new functionalities to this already remarkable material. In the present communication we describe the synthesis of new nanocellulosic structures with grafted polymer brushes (via “grafting from” ATRP reactions) and illustrate the ensuing properties by a number of bulk and surface characterization techniques.