We have synthesized a "universal ligand" incorporating a phosphonate surface anchor and a terminal alkyne moiety which binds to TiO2 nanoparticles and exhibits excellent dispersity in organic solvents. The alkyne functionality permits attachment of azide terminated polymer shells using "click" chemistry. Thus TiO2 core nanoparticles have been encapsulated with both polystyrene and poly(t-butyl acrylate) shells. The TiO2-poly(t-butyl acrylate) core shell nonoparticles are amenable to further chemical transformation into TiO2-poly(acrylic acid) nanoparticles through ester hydrolysis. These TiO2-polyacrylic acid nanoparticles are dispersible in aqueous solution. The resulting core-shell nanoparticles have been incorporated as high K dielectric films in capacitor and organic thin film transistor devices and are promising new materials for flexible electronics applications.