Metal oxide (MO, where M: Ni, Cu, Zn) nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized via hydrothermal method and silver was doped on MO NPs. Subsequently, the obtained MO and Ag-MO NPs were characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive spectroscopy. The MO and Ag-MO NPs were studied both the antibacterial activity towards Staphyloccocus aureus and Escherichia coli bacteria and catalytic activity of 4-nitroaniline. The 4-nitroaniline reduction efficiencies of Ag-MO NPs are stronger than MO NPs at the end of 20 min. Among the Ag-MO NPs, Ag-CuO exhibited the biggest catalytic reduction performance of 4-nitroaniline, presenting the reduction efficiency of Ag-CuO 98.2% at the end of 20 min. Also, Ag-CuO demonstrated the highest antibacterial activity towards Staphyloccocus aureus and Escherichia coli bacteria compared with other Ag-MO NPs.