Methods of embedding particles (e.g., nanoparticles) in a coating, the methods including contacting a first surface of a particle layer with a curable resin, followed by curing the curable resin to form a coating having a first coating surface and an opposing second coating surface, resulting in the particles being concentrated at the first coating surface. Also provided are applications for materials prepared according to the disclosed methods in, for example, hardcoating and nano-replication via reactive ion etching.