Confined Electrophoretic Deposition of Uniformly Dispersed Nanoparticle-Integrated Hydrogels with Enhanced Mechanical and Enzyme-Like Properties for Antibacterial Therapy

• • Ultra-uniform deposition of eight distinct positively charged nanoparticles (Ag, ZnO, NiO, Fe3O4, MoS2, MnO2, CuO, ZIF-8) achieved within 1 minute via confined EPD, enabling rapid, scalable manufacturing of multifunctional hydrogels with consistent quality. • • E-gels exhibit significantly enhanced mechanical strength and adhesion compared to conventional hydrogels, critical for load-bearing wound dressings that must withstand physiological stress without delamination. • • Enzyme-like activity and antibacterial efficacy (in vitro and in vivo) are markedly improved, with equidistant nanoparticle distribution ensuring maximal surface exposure and ROS generation for effective bacterial eradication. • • The electrostatic attraction and cross-linking density of the hydrogel network at the cathode are identified as key parameters controlling deposition behavior, providing a tunable platform for optimizing nanoparticle loading and distribution.