A new pathway towards polymer modified cellulose nanocrystals via a “grafting onto” process for drug delivery

Abstract

Poly(ethyl ethylene phosphate) (PEEP) modified cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) (CNC-g-PEEP) were synthesized through a “grafting onto” process, in which a combination of ring-opening polymerization (ROP) and Cu(I)-catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) “click” chemistry was utilized. The resulting suspension of negatively-charged CNC-g-PEEP nanocrystals could be used to encapsulate doxorubicin (DOX) by electrostatic interactions and release the drug in the tumor cell environment.