Ricerc@Sapienza

Hyaluronan (HA) is among the most important bioactive polymers in mammals, playing
a key role in a number of biological functions. In the last decades, it has been increasingly studied
as a biomaterial for drug delivery systems, thanks to its physico-chemical features and ability to
target and enter certain cells. The most important receptor of HA is ‘Cluster of Differentiation 44’
(CD44), a cell surface glycoprotein over-expressed by a number of cancers and heavily involved in

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most significant human pathogens that is frequently isolated in a wide range of superficial and systemic infections. The ability of S. aureus to invade and survive within host cells such as keratinocytes and host immune cells has been increasingly recognized as a potential factor in persistent infections and treatment failures. The incorporation of antibiotics into hyaluronan-cholesterol nanohydrogels represents a novel paradigm in the delivery of therapeutic agents against intracellular bacteria.