Polymer layers with silver nanoparticles

Polydopamine layers were prepared by spontaneous polymerization of dopamine in a weakly alkaline environment on a glass or polymer substrate. Subsequently, Ag NPs prepared by in-situ reduction of silver nitrate with either maltose in an ammoniacal medium or sodium citrate were applied to the prepared layers. The layers thus obtained were characterized by UV-VIS, IR, AAS, Raman spectroscopy and also electron microscopy. Selected samples were tested for their antibacterial activity against E. coli bacteria. The possibility of their use as an active substrate for SERS was also investigated for samples prepared on a glass substrate. (authors)