Carbohydrate functionalized hybrid latex particles.

In this review we highlight the progress in the synthesis of carbohydrate functionalized hybrid latex particles, focusing on different synthetic approaches which use carbohydrates as a surfactant/stabilizer, initiator, grafting site and/or as a macromonomer. These nanocomposites are receiving increasing attention in academia as well as in industry, due to increasingly stringent societal demands for biobased, biodegradable, and biocompatible materials. Furthermore, we will report on the use of nanostructured carbohydrate materials, such as cellulose nanocrystals, starch nanocrystals, and starch nanoparticles. These novel materials represent an interesting emerging field, and examples of latex nanocomposites have only recently been reported. It is the authors' opinion that using carbohydrate materials for the synthesis and production of latex polymers will become of increasing importance as we move towards a more sustainable future.