A novel wound dressing material was prepared by electrospinning poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/AgNO3 aqueous solution into nonwoven webs and then treating the webs by heat or UV radiation. Through SEM, TEM, and XPS analyses, it was observed that the silver (Ag) nanoparticles were generated and existed in the near surface of the electrospun nanofibers. It was found that heat treatment as well as UV radiation reduced the Ag+ ions in the electrospun PVA/AgNO3 fiber web into the Ag nanoparticles. Also the heat treatment improved the crystallinity of the electrospun PVA fiber web and so it made the web unsolved in moisture environment. Therefore, it was concluded that the only heat treated electrospun PVA/AgNO3 fiber web was a good material as wound dressings because it had structural stability in moisture environment as well as excellent antimicrobial ability and, quick and continuous release of the effectiveness. (c) 2006 Society of Plastics Engineers