Versatile functionalization of Fe3O4 nanoparticles via RAFT polymerization and click chemistry

Azide-functionalized chain transfer agent (CTA) was synthesized and subsequently employed to mediate the reversible addition fragmentation transfer (RAFT) polymerization of poly(ethylene glycol) monomethacrylate (PEGMA) on the alkyne-functionalized Fe3O4 nanoparticles surface together with click chemistry. In a single pot procedure, azide-functionalized CTA, alkyne-functionalized Fe3O4 and PEGMA were combined to produce the desired product. Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results showed that PEGMA chains were grafted to Fe3O4 nanoparticles using RAFT polymerization and click chemistry.