Functional poly(ethylene oxide) stars were prepared by free-radical copolymerization of poly(ethylene oxide) macromonomers with divinylbenzene in water. The poly(ethylene oxide) arm was prepared by anionic polymerization using 2-[2-(N,N-dimethylamino)ethoxy]ethanol potassium alkoxide as the initiator. These functional stars were converted into peripherally charged stars by quaternization of the peripheral tertiary amino groups with methyl iodide.