Stabilization and Controlled Association of Inorganic Nanoparticles   using Block Copolymers
  We report on the structural properties of mixed aggregates made from rare-earth inorganic nanoparticles (radius 20 Angstroms) and polyelectrolyte-neutral block copolymers in aqueous solutions. Using scattering experiments and Monte Carlo simulations, we show that these mixed aggregates have a hierarchical core-shell microstructure. The core is made of densely packed nanoparticles and it is surrounded by a corona of neutral chains. This microstructure results from a process of controlled association and confers to the hybrid aggregates a remarkable colloidal stability. 
K. Yokota, M. Morvan, J.-F. Berret and J. Oberdisse