The properties of materials at the nanoscale open up new methodologies for engineering prospective materials usable in high-end applications. The preparation of composite materials with a high content of an active component on their surface is one of the current challenges of materials engineering. This concept significantly increases the efficiency of heterogeneous processes moderated by the active component, typically in biological applications, catalysis, or drug delivery. Here we introduce a general approach, based on laser-induced optomechanical processing of silver colloids, for the preparation of polymer surfaces highly enriched with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). As a result, the AgNPs are firmly immobilized in a thin surface layer without the use of any other chemical mediators. We have shown that our approach is applicable to a broad spectrum of polymer foils, regardless of whether they absorb laser light or not. However, if the laser radiation is absorbed, it is possible to transform smooth surface morphology of the polymer into a roughened one with a higher specific surface area. Analyses of the release of silver from the polymer surface together with antibacterial tests suggested that these materials could be suitable candidates in the fight against nosocomial infections and could inhibit the formation of biofilms with a long-term effect.

Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences SoWa National Research Infrastructure Na Sádkách 7 370 05 České Budejovice Czech Republic

Department of Chemical Engineering University of Chemistry and Technology Prague 166 28 Prague Czech Republic

Department of Microbiology University of Chemistry and Technology Prague 166 28 Prague Czech Republic

Department of Organic Technology University of Chemistry and Technology Prague 166 28 Prague Czech Republic

Department of Physics Faculty of Science University of Jan Evangelista in Ústí nad Labem 400 03 Usti nad Labem Czech Republic

Department of Solid State Engineering University of Chemistry and Technology Prague 166 28 Prague Czech Republic

Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic Heyrovského nám 2 162 06 Prague Czech Republic

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