  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.
