A method for reducing friction coefficients and wear between lubricated surfaces. The method includes providing an amount of an oil-soluble nanospherical component derived from a photo-crosslinkable poly(2-cinnamoyloxyalkyl acrylate) core and a diblock acrylate copolymer corona in a fully formulated lubricant composition containing a base oil of lubricating viscosity. The nanospherical component has a core diameter ranging from about 10 to about 100 nanometers. The lubricant composition containing the nanospherical component is applied to a surface to be lubricated.