The optical properties of regular nanoparticle arrays consisting of spherical semiconductor and noble metal nanoparticles are providing interesting aspects for the development of novel and powerful sensor concepts. In this contribution, we demonstrate femtosecond laser-induced transfer of metallic and semiconductor thin films as a unique tool for realizing controllable structures of any desired configuration of exactly spherical nanoparticles, having diameters between 40 nm and 1500 nm. The optical properties of nanoparticles and nanoparticle arrays fabricated by this new approach are investigated spectroscopically and by scattering of surface plasmon-polaritons (SPPs). SPP-scattering constitutes a novel method to obtain insight into the contribution of different multipole moments to the scattering properties of the particles. Furthermore, the particles can be combined with 3D photonic structures fabricated using two-photon polymerization, providing new approaches to the development of nanophotonic devices and 3D metamaterials. Here, we demonstrate an optical sensor with a sensitivity of 365 nm/RIU and a figure of merit of 21.5 in the visible spectral range.