Oral dosage forms for delivery of therapeutic agents

1. An oral dosage form comprising

a first inner core containing a first mechanical fastener including at least one first filament;

a second inner core containing a second mechanical fastener, wherein the second inner core including the second mechanical fastener is separated from the first inner core including the first mechanical fastener;

a first protective layer encasing the first inner core including the first mechanical fastener;

a second protective layer encasing the second inner core including the second mechanical fastener, and

a therapeutic agent contained in at least one of the first inner core, the second inner core, or both

wherein the at least one first filament includes a first position and a second position;

wherein the first position of the at least one first filament is in a non-gripping position; and

wherein the second position of the at least one first filament is in a tissue-gripping position.

2. The oral dosage form of claim 1 , wherein the first mechanical fastener extends from a surface of the first inner core.

3. The oral dosage form of claim 1 , wherein the at least one first filament is selected from the group consisting of loops, barbs, V-shaped filaments, hook-shaped filaments, napped filaments, straight filaments, and combinations thereof.

4. The oral dosage form of claim 1 , wherein a first portion of the at least one first filament is embedded in the first inner core and a second portion of the first filament protrudes from an outer surface of the first inner core.

5. The oral dosage form of claim 1 , wherein the at least one first filament comprises a shape memory material.

6. The oral dosage form of claim 5 , wherein the shape memory material is selected from the group consisting of shape memory polymers, shape memory alloys and combinations thereof.

7. The oral dosage form of claim 1 , wherein the second mechanical fastener extends from a surface of the second inner core.

8. The oral dosage form of claim 7 , wherein the second mechanical fastener comprises at least one second filament.

9. The oral dosage form of claim 8 , wherein the at least one second filament is selected from the group consisting of loops, barbs, V-shaped filaments, hook-shaped filaments, napped filaments, straight filaments, and combinations thereof.

10. The oral dosage form of claim 8 , wherein a first portion of the at least one second filament is embedded in the second inner core and a second portion of the second filament protrudes from an outer surface of the second inner core.

11. The oral dosage form of claim 8 , wherein the at least one second filament includes a first position and a second position.

12. The oral dosage form of claim 11 , wherein the first position of the at least one second filament is in a non-gripping position.

13. The oral dosage form of claim 11 , wherein the second position of the at least one second filament is in a tissue-gripping position.

14. The oral dosage form of claim 8 , wherein that least one second filament comprises a shape memory material.

15. The oral dosage form of claim 14 , wherein the shape memory material is selected from the group consisting of shape memory polymers, shape memory alloys and combinations thereof.

16. The oral dosage form of claim 1 , wherein the dosage form is selected from the group consisting of pills, tablets, capsules, caplets, wafers, and pellets.

17. The oral dosage form of claim 1 , wherein upon degradation of the second protective layer, the second inner core engages gastrointestinal tissue and the first inner core is delayed from engaging gastrointestinal tissue by the first protective layer.

18. The oral dosage form of claim 1 , wherein the oral dosage form maintains the ability to engage different gastrointestinal tissues while being passed through the gastrointestinal tract.

19. The oral dosage form of claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic agent is further contained in at least one of the first protective layer, the protective second layer or both.

20. The oral dosage form of claim 1 , wherein the first protective layer completely encases only the first inner core including the first mechanical fastener.

21. The oral dosage form of claim 20 , wherein the second protective layer completely encases the second inner core including the second mechanical fastener and the first protective layer.

22. An oral dosage form comprising

a first inner core containing a first mechanical fastener including at least one filament;

a second inner core containing a second mechanical fastener, wherein the second inner core including the second mechanical fastener is separated from the first inner core including the first mechanical fastener;

a first protective layer encasing the first inner core including the first mechanical fastener;

a second protective layer encasing the second inner core including the second mechanical fastener;

an outer protective layer encasing the first protective layer and the second protective layer; and

a therapeutic agent contained in at least one of the first inner core, the second inner core, or both

wherein the at least one first filament includes a first position and a second position;

wherein the first position of the at least one first filament is in a non-gripping position; and

wherein the second position of the at least one first filament is in a tissue-gripping position.

23. An oral dosage form comprising

a first inner core containing a first mechanical fastener including at least one filament;

a second inner core containing a second mechanical fastener, wherein the second inner core including the second mechanical fastener is separated from the first inner core including the first mechanical fastener;

a first protective layer encasing the first inner core including the first mechanical fastener;

a second protective layer encasing the second inner core including the second mechanical fastener, and

a therapeutic agent contained in at least one of the first inner core, the second inner core, or both,

wherein the at least one first filament includes a first position and a second position;

wherein the first position of the at least one first filament is in a non-gripping position;

wherein the second position of the at least one first filament is in a tissue-gripping position; and

wherein the first protective layer and the second protective layer are formed of different materials.