Adsorption and polymer modification of colloidal silica by radical copolymerization of surface active monomers, i.e., polymerizable surfactant having a vinyl end group, were investigated. Radical copolymerization of amide ammonium monomer and ammonium-type cross-linker (monomer) using a initiator of 2,2 0 -azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride on colloidal silica successfully led to the formation of monodispersed cross-linked polymer/SiO 2 composites, which is stable in organic solvents. Addition of carboxylic acid monomer to the reaction system of two ammonium monomers gave homogeneously polymer-coated silica composites having carboxyl groups. The composites show -potential of Ă36 mV and 0 mV in water and ethanol, respectively. KEY WORDS: Colloidal Silica / Radical Copolymerization / Surface Active Monomer / Adsorption / Inorganic-organic composite nanoparticles have attracted much interest, because they possess properties of both inorganic particles and organic molecules, thereby leading to extensive potential applications in various fields of materials science.