Surface-initiated RAFT polymerization of NIPAM from monolithic macroporous polyHIPE

► Porous polyHIPE with surface amino groups can be functionalized with a RAFT chain transfer agent (CTA). ► Surface initiated RAFT polymerization produces fully coated monoliths. ► Amount of grafted PNIPAM can be modulated by free CTA. ► Macroscopic properties of monoliths (hydrophilicity) changes with grafting. ► Universal and simple method for surface modulation of polyHIPEs.