title: The preparation of graft copolymers of cellulose and cellulose derivatives using ATRP under homogeneous reaction conditions.
abstract: In this comprehensive review, we report on the preparation of graft-copolymers of cellulose and cellulose derivatives using atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) under homogeneous conditions. The review is divided into four sections according to the cellulosic material that is graft-copolymerised; (i) cellulose, (ii) ethyl cellulose, (iii) hydroxypropyl cellulose and (iv) other cellulose derivatives. In each section, the grafted synthetic polymers are described as well as the methods used for ATRP macro-initiator formation and graft-copolymerisation. The physical properties of the graft-copolymers including their self-assembly in solution into nanostructures and their stimuli responsive behaviour are described. Potential applications of the self-assembled graft copolymers in areas such as nanocontainers for drug delivery are outlined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Durham University, Science Laboratories, Durham DH1 3LE, UK. n.r.cameron@durham.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Fanny
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Joubert
authors.forename: Osama M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Musa
authors.forename: David R W
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Hodgson
authors.forename: Neil R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Cameron
mesh_terms: D002482:Cellulose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry*; D058105:Polymerization
chemical_list: C013517:ethyl cellulose; D002482:Cellulose; C008079:hydroxypropylcellulose