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. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.