Direct synthesis of well-defined zwitterionic cyclodextrin polymers via atom transfer radical polymerization

•A β-cyclodextrin monomer is synthesized with excellent yield using “click” chemistry.•An ATRP protocol for the direct synthesis of sulfobetaine and β-cyclodextrin (co)polymers is presented.•Low size distributions (ĐM) and high initiator efficiencies are obtained.•Excellent host-guest binding properties of the copolymers is revealed.•The copolymer shows salt-dependent UCST behavior.