In　this　paper,　we　present　a　general　protocol　for　the　making　of　surface-imprinted　core-shell　nanoparticles　via　surface　reversible　addition-fragmentation　chain-transfer　(RAFT)　polymerization　using　RAFT　agent　functionalized　model　silica　nanoparticles　as　the　chain-transfer　agent.　In　this　protocol,　trichloro(4-chloromethylphenyl)silane　was　immobilized　on　the　surface　of　SiO　2　nanoparticles,　forming　chloromethylphenyl　functionalized　silica　(silica-Cl).　RAFT　agent　functionalized　silica　was　subsequently　produced　by　substitute　reaction　of　silica-Cl　with　PhC(S)SMgBr.　The　grafting　copolymerization　of　4-vinylpyridine　and　ethylene　glycol　dimethacrylate　using　surface　RAFT　polymerization　and　in　the　presence　of　2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic　acid　as　the　template　led　to　the　formation　of　surface-imprinted　core-shell　nanoparticles.　The　resulting　surface-imprinted　core-shell　nanoparticles　bind　the　original　template　2,4-D　with　an　appreciable　selectivity　over　structurally　related　compounds.　The　potential　use　of　the　surface-imprinted　core-shell　nanoparticles　as　the　recognition　element　in　the　competitive　fluorescent　binding　assay　for　2,4-D　was　also　demonstrated.　©　2007　American　Chemical　Society.