We report here the successful functionalization of single-walled carbon nanotubes with bioinspired sugar and phosphocholine polymeric structures via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization. The surface-polymer-coated carbon nanotubes have been systematically analyzed by Raman, infrared, ultravioletvisible, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, which give strong evidence of successful functionalization. The successful aqueous dispersion of the functionalized. carbon nanotubes also indicates that functionalization has been achieved. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.