Study on the antibacterial mechanism of copper ion- and neodymium ion-modified α-zirconium phosphate with better antibacterial activity and lower cytotoxicity

•Cu2+ or/and Nd3+ modified layered α-zirconium phosphate (ZrP) were prepared.•Basal spacings of ZrP were not obviously affected by Cu3+.•Basal spacings of ZrP were obviously affected by Nd3+.•Cu-Nd@ZrP leading to changes of ion concentrations and leakages of DNA, RNA of bacterial.•Cu-Nd@ZrP display excellent additivity antibacterial activity and lower cytotoxicity.