Confined Electrophoretic Deposition of Uniformly Dispersed Nanoparticle-Integrated Hydrogels with Enhanced Mechanical and Enzyme-Like Properties for Antibacterial Therapy
Nanoparticle-integrated hydrogels combine the favorable properties of hydrogels and nanoparticles, yet conventional integration methods fail to ensure uniform dispersion and full exposure of nanoparticles, resulting in suboptimal performance. This study introduces a confined electrophoretic deposition (EPD) strategy to fabricate hydrogels uniformly deposited with MnSiO3 nanoparticles (designated MnSiO3-based E-gels). The density of cross-linking points and electrostatic attraction at the cathode critically govern nanoparticle deposition behavior. The confined EPD strategy enables ultra-uniform deposition of positively charged nanoparticles (Ag, ZnO, NiO, Fe3O4, MoS2, MnO2, CuO, and ZIF-8) within hydrogel micropores in less than one minute. Nanoparticles deposited under the electrostatic field exhibit equidistant distribution, superior dispersity, and enhanced binding stability. Consequently, the E-gels demonstrate significant improvements in mechanical strength, adhesion, enzyme-like activity, and in vitro and in vivo antibacterial efficacy compared to conventional hydrogels. This confined EPD approach offers a versatile and efficient protocol for integrating polymer-based hydrogel networks with functional nanoparticles, holding promise for biomedicine and materials science.