TiO2 nanoparticles composed of rutile nanothorns and anatase nanoparticles deposited on the base of the nanothorns are obtained via a low-temperature (<100 degrees C) one-pot aqueous route. Heating of anatase microcapsules with ruffle nanothorns which are transformed from initially formed amorphous microparticles leads disaggregation of the shell of the microcapsules in water, resulting in formation of anatase-rutile coupled TiO2. The TiO2 composite nanoparticles show functional abilities on photocatalytic reaction and soft ionization mass spectrometry.