Micropore particle technology

Lore & Background

MPPT's micro-pumping action removes toxins and enzymes released by bacteria and fungi, restoring immune cell function. It also creates holes in biofilm, the protective shield secreted by microbes, allowing immune cells to enter and selectively remove unwanted organisms. This enables the immune system to clear infections, including antibiotic-resistant ones, without contributing to antimicrobial resistance.

Reader's Guide

In a 266-patient clinical study, MPPT reduced time to an infection-free, healing wound by 60% compared to topical antibiotic gentamicin and antiseptic iodine, and reduced hospitalization days by 31%. At Bristol University Hospital, nine dehisced surgical wounds and one category 4 pressure ulcer achieved the same healing stage in 4–5 days that would have required 3 or more weeks with standard care (UrgoClean followed by NPWT), offering 67% savings; all wounds closed. MPPT has promoted healing in diabetic foot ulcers, venous leg ulcers, pressure ulcers, and chronic non-healing cases. A poster at the British Association of Dermatologists showed MPPT assisted healing of three chronic pyoderma gangrenosum ulcers, with one patient able to reduce immunosuppressant dose. Positive effects have also been observed in hidradenitis suppurativa. MPPT is the only wound product with EU approval as a 'treatment for wounds'; other devices are approved only for specific effects like adding moisture or removing exudate.

Did You Know?

• MPPT is designed to create holes in biofilm, allowing immune cells to enter and remove bacteria and fungi.
• MPPT has been used on chronic, non-healing diabetic foot ulcers, venous leg ulcers, and pressure ulcers, with reports of promoting healing in many cases.
• The technology works by absorbing wound exudate and disrupting microbial defenses without direct antibacterial effects.

The Micro-Pumping Mechanism

MPPT operates through a dual mechanism of capillary action and evaporation. The fine, highly porous particles draw wound exudate deep into their internal micropore structure. Capillary flow then transports this fluid away from the wound surface toward the upper face of the MPPT layer, where the greatly expanded surface area permits effective evaporation. Because the individual particles are so small, they behave like tiny micro-pumps capable of reaching every crevice and irregularity in the wound bed. Beyond simple fluid management, this micro-pumping action carries a secondary biological consequence: it disrupts the defensive strategies that bacteria and fungi deploy against the immune system. The pumping strips away the toxins and enzymes that pathogens release to paralyse immune cells, allowing those cells to recover their normal function. The mechanical action also punctures biofilm—the protective matrix that microbes secrete as a shield—creating openings through which immune cells can penetrate the layer and selectively eliminate unwanted organisms. In this way, MPPT functions as a form of passive immunotherapy rather than a conventional antimicrobial agent.

Clinical Performance and Comparative Data

The clinical evidence for MPPT spans preclinical wound-healing models and a 266-patient comparative study covering a broad spectrum of wound types. In that trial, MPPT shortened the time required to reach an infection-free, healing state by 60% when benchmarked against both the topical antibiotic genamicin and the antiseptic iodine. Hospital stays were also trimmed by 31% relative to the antibiotic arm. At Bristol University Hospital, a focused evaluation examined nine dehisced surgical wounds and one category 4 pressure ulcer. Under standard care, such wounds typically require a week of UrgoClean followed by at least two weeks of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy. Wounds treated with MPPT reached the equivalent healing milestone in just four to five days, a 67% time saving, and every treated wound closed completely. The technology has additionally demonstrated healing promotion in chronic, non-healing diabetic foot ulcers, venous leg ulcers, and pressure ulcers, broadening its clinical relevance well beyond acute surgical sites.

Extending into Dermatology and Chronic Conditions

Although MPPT is primarily associated with wound management, its therapeutic reach has expanded into dermatology. A poster presented by Birmingham University Hospitals at the British Association of Dermatologists documented successful healing of three chronic, stable pyoderma gangrenosum ulcers using the technology. In one of those patients, the dose of immunosuppressant medication could be reduced, suggesting MPPT may complement pharmacological approaches rather than merely substitute for them. Positive effects have also been observed in hidradenitis suppurativa, further broadening the therapeutic landscape. The technology has proven effective on chronic, non-healing ulcers of various aetiologies—diabetic foot ulcers, venous leg ulcers, and pressure ulcers alike—where standard treatments often stall. This versatility across wound types and chronic conditions positions MPPT as a tool that addresses the underlying biological barriers to healing rather than simply managing surface symptoms, making it relevant to both surgical and dermatological practice.

Regulatory Distinction and the Resistance Question

MPPT occupies a unique regulatory position within the European Union. It is approved specifically as a treatment for wounds, making it the only wound-care product to carry that designation. Other medical devices used in wound care—such as those designed to add moisture or remove exudate—are approved for a particular mechanical effect on the wound but are not recognised as treatments in the same sense. This distinction underscores that MPPT's mechanism extends beyond passive fluid management to actively influence the healing and infection-resolution process. Crucially, MPPT exerts no antibacterial effect of its own; it does not kill or inhibit microbes directly. Instead, it removes the tools pathogens use to evade the immune system and opens pathways for the body's own defences to act. This means it can help resolve infections caused by antibiotic-resistant organisms without exerting any selective pressure that would drive the emergence of new antimicrobial resistance, a property of considerable long-term significance in an era of growing resistance.