COMPOSITION CONTAINING CATIONIC HYDROXYETHYL CELLULOSE

1 . An aqueous solution comprising

(a) a cationic polymer dissolved in water, wherein said cationic polymer comprises a hydrophobic quaternary ammonium group covalently attached to a hydroxyethyl cellulose polymer backbone and

(b) one or more physiologically active agents

2 . The aqueous solution of claim 1 , wherein the amount of said cationic polymer is 0.01% to 10% by weight based on the weight of said aqueous solution.

3 . The aqueous solution of claim 1 , wherein said cationic polymer has repeat units of structure II

wherein n is 10 or higher; —R a , —R b , and —R c is each H or —[CH 2 CH 2 O] x —R 1 , wherein each x is chosen from 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4; wherein R 1 is H or Structure III:

wherein —R d — is a bivalent organic group, and —R e is either a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl (OH) group; wherein at least one repeat unit has at least one of —R a , —R b , and —R c in which x is 1, 2, 3, or 4; wherein one or more of —R a , —R b , and —R c has the structure —[CH 2 CH 2 O] x —R 1 ; wherein —R 2 and —R 3 is each an alkyl group with 3 or few carbon atoms;

wherein R 4 is an alkyl group with 10 or more carbon atoms; and wherein X is an anion of valence v.

4 . The aqueous solution of claim 3 , wherein —R d — is —CH 2 —; —R e — is —OH; —R 2 and —R 3 is each methyl; and —R 4 is an alkyl group with 12 or more carbon atoms.

5 . A method of delivering a drug to a mucosal surface in a living body, said method comprising applying the aqueous solution of claim 1 to said mucosal surface, wherein said aqueous solution of claim 1 comprises said drug.

6 . The method of claim 5 wherein said mucosal surface is in a vagina, a mouth, an eye, an ear, an esophagus, a stomach, intestines, or a nasal cavity.

7 . The method of claim 5 wherein said mucosal surface is in a nasal cavity.