Antimicrobial　nanofibers　of　poly(F-caprolactone)　(PCL)　were　prepared　by　electrospinning　of　a　PCL　solution　with　small　amounts　of　silver-loaded　zirconium　phosphate　nanoparticles　(nanoAgZ)　for　potential　use　in　wound　dressing　applications.　The　electrospun　nanoAgZ-containing　PCL　nanofibers　were　characterized　using　field　emission　scanning　electron　microscopy,　energy　dispersive　X-ray　spectrum　(EDX),　X-ray　diffraction　analysis　(XRD),　antimicrobial　tests,　and　biocompatibility　tests.　The　SEM,　EDX,　and　XRD　investigations　of　the　electrospun　fibers　confirmed　that　silver-containing　nanoparticles　were　incorporated　and　well　dispersed　in　smooth　and　beadless　PCL　nanofibers.　The　results　of　the　antimicrobial　tests　showed　that　these　fibers　have　maintained　the　strong　killing　abilities　of　Ag+　existed　in　the　nanoAgZ　against　the　tested　bacteria　strains　and　discoloration　has　not　been　observed　for　the　nanofibers.　To　test　the　biocompatibility　of　nanofibers　as　potential　wound　dressings,　primary　human　dermal　fibroblasts　(HDFs)　were　cultured　on　the　nanofibrous　mats.　The　cultured　cells　were　evaluated　in　terms　of　cell　proliferation　and　morphology.　The　results　indicated　that　the　cells　attached　and　proliferated　as　continuous　layers　on　the　nanoAgZ-containing　nanofibers　and　maintained　the　healthy　morphology　of　HDFs.　The　earlier　results　suggested　that　nanoAgZ-containing　fibers　may　be　expected　to　be　a　novel　material　for　potential　wound　dressing　applications　because　of　the　significant　bacteriostatic　activities　and　good　biocompatibility.　(C)　2007　Wiley　Periodicals,　Inc.