Reactive hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate (reactive HPMCP) was synthesized by using a stepwise urethane reaction with isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) and 2-hydroxyethyl moth acrylate (HEMA). Molecular weight, acid number, and critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the synthesized reactive HPMCP and pristine HPMCP were measured and used as a polymeric surfactant in the emulsion polymerizations of styrene. In the preparation of HPMCP-hybrid poly styrene nanoparticles, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 wt% of HPMCPs were introduced, and the maximum rate of polymerization ($R_{p,max}$), the average number of radicals per particle (n), particle size distribution were investigated. In addition, core - shell morphology of the nanoparticles were observed by using TEM and their thermal stabilities were measured by using TGA. Reactive HPMCP showed higher $R_{p,max}$, smaller particle size, larger values of n and gel contents as compared with pristine HPMCP, due to the vinyl groups from HEMA, which can be reacted with styrene oligomers, in the reactive HPMCP.