Why Silver Takes Home the Gold for Hydrogel-Based Wound Care

NEW YORK, Aug. 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Silver is more than just a precious metal—it's a precious tool in wound care. Since silver is able to kill bacteria in wounds and tissue, wound dressings that incorporate silver are becoming increasingly popular, especially in an era of rising resistance to antibiotics and an increasing awareness of the dangers of hospital-acquired infections.

NYC-based Alliqua, Inc. has taken the antimicrobial properties of silver one step further by integrating it into dressings known as hydrogel dressings. Hydrogels are gel-like substances made of water and solids, created via a proprietary manufacturing process. Alliqua's SilverSeal^® is a flexible, sterile hydrogel dressing, only 1.4 cm thick, that incorporates the antimicrobial properties of silver. It is designed for use on partial and full-thickness dermal ulcers, leg ulcers, superficial wounds, abrasions, first and second degree burns, donor sites and over debrided and grafted partial thickness wounds.

Unlike competing products, SilverSeal is approximately 93 percent water-based, meaning it provides a moist environment that is very favorable for wound healing, provides a cooling effect, and becomes active immediately after being placed on the wound. Although the sheets—which are available in 2"x3" and 4"x5" sizes—can hold themselves in place, they do not bond to the wound or skin, and thus can be removed without causing pain during dressing changes. And while many hydrogels are not highly absorbent, SilverSeal can absorb 2.5 times its weight in wound fluid. Finally, a single dressing can be worn for up to seven days, during which time silver ions are continuously released. In vitro studies have shown that the silver fiber in SilverSeal is effective in resisting the growth of bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE).

For more information, please visit www.alliqua.com.

Contact:  
Susan Forman & Laura Radocaj, Dian Griesel Int'l. 212.825.3210

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SOURCE Alliqua, Inc.