Chitosan/layered silicate nanocomposites with different ratios were successfully prepared via solution-mixing processing technique. Unmodified Ca2+-rectorite and organic rectorite modified by cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide were used. Their structures were characterized by XRD, TEM and FT-IR techniques. The results showed that chitosan chains were inserted into silicate layers to form the intercalated nanocomposites. The interlayer distance of the layered silicates in the nanocomposites enlarged as its amount increased. When the weight ratio between chitosan and organic rectorite was 12:1, the largest interlayer distance of 8.24 urn was obtained. However, with further increase of its amount, the interlayer distance of the layered silicates in the nanocomposites reduced. In vitro antimicrobial assay showed that pristine rectorite could not inhibit the growth of bacteria, but chitosan/layered silicate nanocomposites had stronger antimicrobial activity than pure chitosan, particularly against Gram-positive bacteria. With the increase of the amount and the interlayer distance of the layered silicates in the nanocomposites, the nanocomposites showed a stronger antibacterial effect on Gram-positive bacteria, while the nanocomposites showed a weaker antibacterial effect on Gram-negative bacteria. The lowest minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) value of the nanocomposites against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis was 0.00313% (w/v), and the relative inhibition time (RIT) against B. subtilis with concentration of 0.00313% (w/v) was > 120 h. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.