Skin penetration/permeation enhancers are compounds that improve (trans)dermal drug delivery. We designed hybrid terpene-amino acid enhancers by conjugating natural terpenes (citronellol, geraniol, nerol, farnesol, linalool, perillyl alcohol, menthol, borneol, carveol) or cinnamyl alcohol with 6-(dimethylamino)hexanoic acid through a biodegradable ester linker. The compounds were screened for their ability to increase the delivery of theophylline and hydrocortisone through and into human skin ex vivo. The citronellyl, bornyl and cinnamyl esters showed exceptional permeation-enhancing properties (enhancement ratios up to 82) while having low cellular toxicities. The barrier function of enhancer-treated skin (assessed by transepidermal water loss and electrical impedance) recovered within 24 h. Infrared spectroscopy suggested that these esters fluidized the stratum corneum lipids. Furthermore, the citronellyl ester increased the epidermal concentration of topically applied cidofovir, which is a potent antiviral and anticancer drug, by 15-fold. In conclusion, citronellyl 6-(dimethylamino)hexanoate is an outstanding enhancer with an advantageous combination of properties, which may improve the delivery of drugs that have a limited ability to cross biological barriers.

The formation of crystalline host–guest complexes of three constitutionally isomeric host compounds 1–3 featuring two diphenylhydroxymethyl groups attached in different positions to a biphenylylene central moiety is studied. Dependent on the connection mode (2,2′-, 3,3′-, or 4,4′-) with reference to the biphenylylene unit, a distinctly different complex behavior of the host compounds is observed. X-ray crystal structures of the solvent-free hosts are reported including a third polymorph with respect to already known polymorphous structures. The crystal structures of eight host–guest complexes of 1–3, including a pair of complexes differing only in the host/guest stoichiometry, are described and comparatively discussed covering the structures of known complex species of the isomeric hosts. Correlations between the constitutional isomerism of the host molecules and their conformational as well as packing structures in the crystalline state, both in unsolvated and solvent complexed form, are demonstrated providing potential usefulness in the future design of crystalline host–guest complexes.

Thyroid invasion by Aspergillus spp. can occur with invasive aspergillosis, although it is rarely diagnosed antemortem. We describe a case of multiple thyroid abscesses from A. fumigatus that caused esophageal obstruction in a patient with myelodysplasia. Despite aggressive antifungal treatment, the outcome was rapidly fatal.

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