Electrospinning technique was used to fabricate chloroamphenicol loaded poly (L.-lactic acid)/ZrO2 (CP-PLLA/ZrO2) nanofibrous membranes. The average diameter of drug carrier PLLA/ZrO2 nanofibers increased with ZrO2 concentration increasing and ribbon-shape fibers were present when ZrO2 content reached 3% and above. The existence of hydrogen and Zr-O-C bonds between PLLA and ZrO2 units improved the thermal stability of PLLA. The model drug CP loading showed no significant changes on the size and shape of nanofibers when CP content was below 8%, but the fibers were uneven and interspersed with ball-shape beads when CP content rose up to 10%. From the antimicrobial activity and release experimental result, the CP-PLLA/ZrO2 nanofibrous membranes revealed well controlled release and better antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, which may have potential as a new nanofibrous membrane in drug delivery and wound dressing. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.