Polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) foil was patterned by excimer laser. Self-organized, well-separated ripples were prepared on PEN surface. Rippled PEN was used for the preparation of 20 nm thick Ag nanowire arrays. Properties of pristine and laser-patterned PEN were compared with Ag-coated one. The results of antibacterial tests revealed strong antibacterial effect of Ag.