Amino acid modified cellulose whiskers

L-Leucine amino acid functionalized cellulose whiskers were synthesized via esterification reaction which comprised the reaction between Fmoc-L-leucine and cellulose whiskers and removal of Fmoc-protecting group. This strategy provides a direct, facile way to merge the properties of these biocompatible materials and offers the possibility to introduce biologically active building blocks in cellulose whiskers.