Green and direct functionalization of poly (ethylene glycol) grafted polymers onto single walled carbon nanotubes: Effective nanocarrier for doxorubicin delivery

•A novel PEG grafted, furfuryl functionalized copolymer was synthesized by RAFT and consecutive ring opening reactions.•The copolymer was readily grafted on SWCNT by Diels–Alder click reaction in water through an ultrasound-assisted method.•Doxorubicin was loaded in the copolymer grafted SWCNT with a high drug loading capacity.•The drug loaded hybrid showed pH-responsive characteristics and a high antitumor activity towards HeLa cancer cells.