Introducing Microlyte Vet: a new generation of wound technology for optimal wound healing

02 April 2022
3 mins read
Volume 13 · Issue 3
Figure 1. Instead of asking how to ‘treat’ a wound, the group of DVMs, MDs and PhDs at UW-Madison asked, ‘how do we re-engineer the wound bed?’ This change in perspective led to the development of a novel technology: MicroLyte Vet. Jonathan McAnulty, DVM, Chairman of the Department of Surgical Sciences, UW-Madison College of Veterinary Medicine holds a small sample of the product he helped to pioneer.

Abstract

It is not often that you stumble on a new technology that gives you a new perspective on wound care. With over 10 years of research behind it Microlyte offers a new concept as a ‘leave in’ product that combines the antimicrobial power of ionic silver with a hygroscopic film matrix that supports cell migration. This review covers the key points from the workshop, which introduced the science of Microlyte, its features and benefits and its potential applications illustrated across a range of case studies.

MicroLyte Vet contains a microscopic ‘active’ layer and a visible ‘handling’ layer. These layers consist of an advanced polyelectrolyte matrix (PEM) combined with the antimicrobial properties of ionic silver that are laid on an ultra thin hygroscopic polyvinyl film (PVA) membrane.

The dressing (Figure 1) presents as a distinctive transparent orange film that when placed into the wound visibly begins to cling to the wound bed covering the full surface and its contours.

The structure of Microlyte Vet combines anionic and cationic charged polymeric components that complement the complex chemistry of the wound to support the formation and reorganisation of granulation tissue. Additionally, a low but precise level of bioactive silver is incorporated into the layers to create a very safe but effective antimicrobial environment at the wound bed (Figure 2).

Many primary dressings with antimicrobial properties are made in textile form perhaps as a woven polymer, synthetic polyurethane or spun fibres. These dressings are often designed for human use for exuding and chronic wounds where capacity to absorb exudate is prioritised; while antimicrobials impregnated into these products act on microbes absorbed into the dressing via wound exudate.

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