The methods disclosed herein are directed to methods of enhancing formation of a polymer from a monomer on a metal-based nanoparticle under X-ray irradiation and compositions produced by such methods. The method comprises irradiating a monomer solution with X-rays to form the polymer; wherein the monomer solution comprises the monomer, the metal-based nanoparticle, and a solvent capable of generating a hydroxyl radical; and wherein the metal-based nanoparticle is a particle having a greatest dimension between 5 and 100 nanometers. The methods also include the dissolution metal ions from these same metal-based nanoparticles wherein the solution comprises the metal-based nanoparticle and a solvent capable of generating a hydroxyl radical; and wherein the metal-based nanoparticle is a particle having a greatest dimension between 5 and 100 nanometers.