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Today, it would be difficult for us to live a full life without polymers, especially in medicine, where its applicability is constantly expanding, giving satisfactory results without any harm effects on health. This study focused on the formation of hexagonal domains doped with AgNPs using a KrF excimer laser ({\lambda}=248 nm) on the polyetheretherketone (PEEK) surface that acts as an unfailing source of the antibacterial agent - silver. The hexagonal structure was formed with a grid placed in front of the incident laser beam. Surfaces with immobilized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were observed by AFM and SEM. Changes in surface chemistry were studied by XPS. To determine the concentration of released Ag+ ions, ICP-MS analysis was used. The antibacterial tests proved the antibacterial efficacy of Ag-doped PEEK composites against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus as the most common pathogens. Because AgNPs are also known for their strong toxicity, we also included cytotoxicity tests in this study. The findings presented here contribute to the advancement of materials design in the biomedical field, offering a novel starting point for combating bacterial infections through the innovative integration of AgNPs into inert synthetic polymers.

Here, we present surface analysis and biocompatibility evaluation of novel composite material based on graphene oxide traded as Hastalex. First, the surface morphology and elemental analysis of the pristine material were examined by atomic force and scanning electron microscopies, and by energy-dispersive and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies, respectively. The Hastalex surface was then modified by plasma, 3 and 8 W with exposure times up to 240 s, the impact of which on the material surface wettability and morphology was further evaluated. In addition, the material aging was studied at room and elevated temperatures. Significant changes in surface roughness, morphology, and area were detected at the nanometre scale after plasma exposure. An increase in oxygen content due to the plasma exposure was observed both for 3 and 8 W. The plasma treatment had an outstanding effect on the cytocompatibility of Hastalex foil treated at both input powers of 3 and 8 W. The cell number of human MRC 5 fibroblasts on Hastalex foils exposed to plasma increased significantly compared to pristine Hastalex and even to tissue culture polystyrene. The plasma exposure also affected the fibroblasts cell growth and shape.

We focused on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as a substrate for replication, micropatterning, and construction of biologically active surfaces. The novelty of this study is based on the combina-tion of argon plasma exposure of micropatterned PDMS scaffold, where the plasma served as a strong tool for subsequent grafting of collagen coating and their application as cell growth scaf-folds, where the standard has been significantly exceeded. As part of scaffold design, templates with a patterned microstructure of different dimensions (50 x 50, 50 x 20 and 30 x 30 microns were created by photolithography followed by pattern replication on a PDMS polymer substrate. Subsequently, the prepared microstructured PDMS replicas were coated with a type I collagen layer. The sample preparation was followed by the characterization of material surface properties through various analytical techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). To evaluate the biocompatibility of the produced samples, we conducted studies on the interactions between selected polymer replicas with micro- and nanostructures and mammalian cells. Specif-ically, we utilized mouse myoblasts (C2C12) and our results demonstrate that we achieved excellent cell alignment in conjunction with the development of a cytocompatible surface. Consequently, the outcomes of this research contribute to an enhanced comprehension of surface properties and interactions between structured polymers and mammalian cells. The use of periodic microstructures holds the potential for advancing the creation of novel materials and scaffolds in tissue engineering. These materials exhibit exceptional biocompatibility and possess the capacity to promote cell adhesion and growth.

The presented study highlights the efficiency of employing a KrF excimer laser to create diverse types of periodic nanostructures (LIPSS - laser induced periodic surface structures) on polyether ether ketone (PEEK) and polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) substrates. By exposing the polymer films below their ablation threshold to laser fluence ranging from 4 to 16 mJcm-2 at 6,000 pulses, we studied both single-phase exposure at beam incidence angles of 0deg and 45deg, and two-phase exposure. Atomic force microscopy analysis revealed that the laser-treated samples contained distinctive periodic patterns such as waves, globules, and pod-like structures each exhibiting unique surface roughness. Moreover, using analytical methods like EDS and XPS shed light on the changes in the atomic composition, specifically focusing on the C and O elements, as a result of laser exposure. Notably, in almost all cases, we observed an increase in oxygen percentage on the sample surfaces. This increase not only led to a decrease in the contact angle with water but also lowered the zeta potential value, thus showing that the modified samples have enhanced hydrophilicity of the surface and altered electrostatic properties. Last but not least, the samples were assessed for biocompatibility; we studied the interaction of the prepared replicates with mouse myoblasts (C2C12). The impact of globular/dot structures on the cell growth in comparison to pristine or linear LIPSS-patterned surfaces was determined. The linear pattern (LIPSS) induced the myoblast cell alignment along the pattern direction, while dot/globular pattern even enhanced the cytocompatibility compared to LIPSS samples.

In the case of polymer medical devices, the surface design plays a crucial role in contact with human tissue. The use of AgNPs as antibacterial agents is well known; however, their anchoring into the polymer surface can still be investigated. This work describes the change in surface morphology and behaviour in the biological environment of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) with immobilised AgNPs after different surface modifications. The initial composites were prepared by immobilisation of silver nanoparticles from a colloid solution into the upper surface layers of polyetheretherketone (PEEK). The prepared samples (Ag/PEEK) had a planar morphology and were further modified with a KrF laser, a GaN laser, and Ar plasma. The samples were studied using the AFM method to visualise changes in surface morphology and to obtain information on the height of the structures and other surface parameters. Comparative analysis of the nanoparticles and polymers was performed using FEG-SEM. The chemical composition of the surface of the samples and optical activity were studied by XPS and UV-Vis spectroscopy. Finally, drop plate antibacterial and cytotoxicity tests were performed to determine the role of Ag nanoparticles after modification and suitability of the surface, which are important for the use of the resulting composite in biomedical applications.