Pursuing intracellular pathogens with hyaluronan. From a 'pro-infection' polymer to a biomaterial for 'trojan horse' systems
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