COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR INJECTION OF A BIODEGRADABLE POLYMER-BASED DELIVERY SYSTEM

1 . A method for administering a polymer-based delivery system to a subject, comprising:

contacting a housing comprising a polymer-based delivery system with a heat-generating component for a period of time, wherein the polymer-based delivery system comprises (i) a polyorthoester of formula III:

where

R* is a C 1-4 alkyl;

n is an integer of at least 5;

A is R 1 or R 3 , where

R 1 is:

p is an integer of 1 to 20;

R 5 is hydrogen;

R 6 is

s is an integer from 1 to 4;

R 3 is

x is an integer from 1 to 4;

in which 20 mol percent of the A units are of the formula R 1 ;

wherein the polyorthoester is prepared from 3,9-di(ethylidene)-2,4,8,10-tetraoxaspiro[5.5]undecane (DETOSU), triethylene glycol (TEG) and triethylene glycol diglycolide (TEG-diGL);

(ii) a pharmaceutically acceptable liquid excipient which is a polyethylene glycol ether having a molecular weight between 200 and 4000; and

iii) from about 1 to 5 weight percent granisetron;

and

injecting the delivery system into the subject.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising activating the heat-generating component before the contacting.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising inverting or agitating the housing during the period of time.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the heat-generating component comprises an exothermic thermochemical composition.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the exothermic composition comprises a supercoolable aqueous salt solution.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the heat-generating component comprises a solid exothermic thermochemical composition.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the solid exothermic composition is an iron powder, wherein an exothermic reaction is activated upon exposure of the exothermic composition to air.

8 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising activating the heat-generating component before the contacting.

9 . (canceled)

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the period of time ranges from about 10 seconds to about 10 minutes.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the viscosity of the delivery system decreases to less than 10,000 centipoise when measured at a temperature of about 25° C.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the delivery system reaches a temperature of about 35° C. to 45° C. at the end of the period of time.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the delivery system is injected into the subject within about 5 seconds to 2 minutes after the end of the period of time.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the injecting is subcutaneous, intradermal or intramuscular.

15 . A kit comprising a housing in which a polymeric-based delivery system is contained and a container comprising a heat-generating component.

16 . The kit of claim 15 , wherein the container is a flexible pad comprising a first surface and a second surface, wherein the heat-generating component is encased between the first and second surface.

17 . The kit of claim 16 , wherein the first surface comprises an adhesive.

18 . The kit of claim 17 , wherein the container is tubular in shape and comprises a lumen.

19 . The kit of claim 15 , wherein the housing is a syringe, a bottle or a vial.