Deposition of Ag/TMC Nanoparticles via MAPLE to Enhance the Mechanical and Antimicrobial Properties of Silicone Hydrogel

This study demonstrates the use of matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) to deposit silver/N,N,N-trimethyl chitosan (Ag/TMC) nanoparticles onto silicone hydrogel surfaces for improved mechanical performance and antimicrobial resistance. The Ag/TMC coating increased the hydrogel’s Young’s modulus from 76 to 139.4 kPa, while maintaining high cell viability (≈94.5%) and optical transparency. The modified silicone hydrogels showed enhanced resistance against *E. coli* and *S. aureus* with up to 115% improvement in antibacterial activity, confirming the synergistic benefits of MAPLE deposition for fabricating multifunctional hydrogel-based biomaterials.