NOVELTY - The multi-component fiber having a radially non-uniform gradient composition, comprises a first domain of a first composition, a second domain of a second composition different from the first composition, an interphase region intermediate the first domain and the second domain, and a third composition different from each of the first and second compositions. The first domain forms a fiber core, and the second domain forms an annular sheath surrounding the core. The interphase region comprises a blend of the first composition and the second composition, and annular interphase domains.    USE - The multi-component fiber is useful in crafting fiber architectures for different end-use applications including: controlled bioerosion of fibers in medical applications such as drug release, tissue engineering and wound healing; smart fiber design (e.g. fibers containing materials that respond to chemistries of human activity, sensation or provide feedback response to environmental stimuli); optical waveguides; communications; applications involving the exchange of chemical and physical energy between domains such as polymeric continuous solar fiber solar collection devices, environmental sensors and geotextiles; bioremedial applications; agrochemical delivery; veterinary drug delivery and treatment; wound healing; bioengineering biomimetic tissue properties; friend or foe textiles; and food security.    ADVANTAGE - The multi-component fiber has high strength, and is capable of effectively and easily collecting solar energy and converting and transferring that energy as an electrical charge.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The multi-component fiber having a radially non-uniform gradient composition, comprises a first domain of a first composition, a second domain of a second composition different from the first composition, an interphase region intermediate the first domain and the second domain, and a third composition different from each of the first and second compositions. The first domain forms a fiber core, and the second domain forms an annular sheath surrounding the core. The interphase region comprises a blend of the first composition and the second composition and annular interphase domains in which each annular interphase domain has a weight ratio of the first composition to the second composition, is annularly disposed intermediate the core and the sheath, and has a thickness of 0.25-200 microns. Each annular interphase domain has a thickness of 0.25-50 microns. The first and second compositions comprise different and/or same polymers. The core forms an innermost domain, the annular sheath forms an outermost domain, a middle domain intermediates the core and the sheath, the first interphase region intermediates the core and the middle domain, and the second interphase region intermediates the middle domain and the sheath. The first composition comprises a p-doped polymeric material, and the second composition comprises a n-doped polymeric material. The fiber has a diameter of 5-20 microns. The radially gradient composition is defined by discrete domains in which the weight ratio of a first component to a second component in each domain increases as the radial distance increases. An amount of biodegrable material in the fiber decreases along the radial distance from an outer surface to the center of the fiber. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for a method for making a fiber.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The diagram shows an image of a cross-section of a multi-component fiber.