Self-condensing vinyl polymerization (SCVP) via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) from the surface of silica (or gold) nanoparticles leads to hybrid nanoparticles with an extremely high density of functional groups at the surface and precise nanoscopic dimensions. For this aim, ATRP initiators are covalently linked to silica particles, followed by SCVP of initiator-monomers ("inimers") having both an acrylic monomer and initiator function in the same molecule. On the average, the hyperbranched polymers carry one bromoester function per monomer unit. The degree of branching and functionality can be adjusted by copolymerization with acrylic monomers. The bromoester function will be further modified by chemical transformations or by atom transfer radical addition to result a variety of functional groups with surface densities which are by orders of magnitude higher than for linear grafted polymers.
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