Diseases caused by microbial infections such as bacteria and fungi have been a problem in public health. Antibacterial materials that can effectively kill bacteria and have no side effects have become one of the current research hotspots and focuses. However, microbes widely appear drug resistance, which has become a difficult point in the treatment of microbial infections. In recent years, chitosan as a green material with high antibacterial activity, good biocompatibility and wide source has attracted wide attention. Chitosan and Ag, Au and Zn nanoparticles would produce synergistic antibacterial effects after being compounded. More importantly, it is difficult for nanoparticles to develop resistance. They can be used in wound dressing films, dressing antibacterial additives and other fields. In this paper, according to the antibacterial properties of chitosan, we summarize its antibacterial mechanism and the factors of activity, and review the current research status of antibacterial materials combined with nanoparticles of Ag, Au and Zn. At last, we provide the development trend of the field and information support for further research on biological antibacterial materials.