A simple one-step method using by P-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) solution was used for preparing electrospun nanofiber (NF) composites containing silver nanoparticles by electrospinning. The beta-CD acted as a stabilizing and reducing agent for the formation of silver nanoparticles. In addition, the average size of the silver nanoparticles could be tuned by changing the concentration of beta-CD. The surface and pore properties were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectronic spectroscopy (XPS), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) measurements. The antimicrobial activities of NFs containing silver nanoparticles (Ag/NFs) against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis) were evaluated by optical density testing. (C) 2011 Elsevier By. All rights reserved.