Synthesis of naringin‐based polymer brushes via seATRP

The flavonoid‐based macromolecule initiator was prepared for the first time by the transesterification reaction of naringin with 2‐bromoisobutyryl bromide. In accordance with the “grafting from” methodology, a naringin‐based copolymer brush with a polar naringenine‐7‐rhamnosidoglucoside core and an amphiphilic poly(methyl methacrylate)‐block‐poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PMMA‐b‐PNIPAM) side chains was synthesized for the first time via a simplified electrochemically mediated ATRP (seATRP), utilizing only 40 ppm of catalytic complex. The rate of the polymerizations was controlled by applying optimal potential or current values during preparative electrolysis to prevent the possibility of intermolecular coupling of the growing polymer brushes. Naturally derived polymer brushes showed narrow molecular weight distributions (Đ = 1.06−1.08). ¹H NMR spectral results confirm the formation of citrus‐based polymer brushes. These new naringin‐based polymer materials may find biomedical applications as thermo‐sensitive drug delivery systems, membranes, and biologically active thin films in tissue engineering.