A novel glucose-containing ABC block terpolymer, poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide)-block-poly(acryloyl glucofuranose)-block-poly(acrylic acid) (PNAA) was synthesized by sequential reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. 2-Dodecylsulfanylthiocarbonylsulfanyl-2-methylpropionic acid was synthesized and was used as a chain transfer agent. The structures were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, proton nuclear magnetic resonance and gel permeation chromatography. Transmission electron microscopy and the phase transition behaviour confirmed that the block terpolymers could directly aggregate into spherical micelles. The results of dynamic light scattering and in vitro drug release experiments demonstrated that the content of the poly(3-O-acryloyl-glucofuranose) segments significantly influences the size of the micelles, the critical micelle concentration (CMC) and the drug release behaviours of the PNAA hydrogels. When the monomer molar ratios of acrylic acid/3-O-acryloyl-glucofuranose/N-isopropyl acrylamide are 4:2:14, the micelle size of PNAA is 292.3 nm, the CMC is the lowest (0.056 mg/mL), and the amount of cumulative drug release is up to 81 %. In vivo biocompatibility tests and in vitro cytotoxicity tests showed that the synthesized block terpolymer had no apparent cytotoxicity.