Residence structures and related methods

1. A method for delivering a residence structure, comprising:

administering, into the stomach of a subject,

a retaining element and

a gastric residence structure in a first configuration constrained by the retaining element, the residence structure comprising at least three loadable polymeric arms and a second polymeric component coupled to the loadable polymeric arms by at least one degradable linker,

wherein at least one loadable polymeric arm comprises an active substance, and the second component is free of active substance,

releasing the residence structure from the retaining element in the stomach, said release resulting in the residence structure undergoing a change in shape to assume a second configuration, the residence structure being retained in the stomach and unable, in the second configuration, to pass through the gastric pyloric orifice of the subject under gastrointestinal physiological conditions.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one loadable polymeric arm comprises at least 10 wt % active substance of the total weight of the loadable polymeric arm.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one degradable linker comprises an enteric polymer.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the residence structure is retained in the stomach for at least about 1 week.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the residence structure can be retained in the stomach for at least about 48 hours in the second configuration,

wherein at least one loadable polymeric arm is configured to release the active substance in the stomach for at least about 48 hours, at a particular initial average rate as determined over the first 24 hours of release and at an average rate of at least about 1% of the initial average rate over a second 24 hour period after the first 24 hours of release,

wherein the at least one degradable linker, after at least about 48 hours, degrades, dissolves, disassociates, and/or mechanically weakens in the gastric environment under gastrointestinal physiological conditions which results in loss of the second configuration and passage of the residence structure out of the stomach through the gastric pyloric orifice.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the active substance is a biological macromolecule, a small molecule, a vitamin, or a supplement.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the active substance is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, a blood thinning agent, a steroid, an antagonist, a cardiac glycoside, an alpha blocker, a cholesterol absorption inhibitor, a metabolite, an antihistamine, an opioid, a proton-pump inhibitor, an antibiotic, an anti-malarial agent, sulfonamides, a substance abuse treatment, a contraceptive, a stimulant, an analgesic, an anti-analgesic, an anti-inflammatory drug, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, an antipyretic, an immunosuppressant, a neuroprotective agent, an antipsychotic, a statin, an antidepressant, an antiepileptic, an anti-proliferative, an anti-cancer agent, an antimigraine drug, an antimicrobial, an antifungal, an antiviral agent, an antiretroviral agent, an antiparasitic, an antimuscarinic, an anxiolytic, a bacteriostatic, a sedative, a hypnotic, a bronchodilator, an anti-asthma drug, a cardiovascular drug, an anesthetic, an anticoagulant, a dopaminergic, an electrolyte, a gastro-intestinal drug, a muscle relaxant, a parasympathomimetic, an anorectic, an anti-narcoleptic, a protein, a peptide, a hormone, a nucleic acid, a gene construct, aft 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl (HMG) co-A reductase inhibitor, a mineral, a prostaglandin, a nutritional supplement, a corticosteroid, a nutraceutical, a plant extract, or a phytohormone.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the active substance is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, an antidepressant, an anxiolytic, a sedative, a hypnotic, an opioid, an antimigraine drug, a cholesterol absorption inhibitor, a substance abuse treatment, an immunosuppressant, an HMG co-A reductase inhibitor, a blood thinning agent, a cardiac glycoside, an antibiotic, a contraceptive, an analgesic, an anesthetic, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, an antiepileptic, or an alpha blocker.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the active substance is meloxicam, escitalopram, clopidogrel, prasugrel, prednisone, naloxone, montelukast, digoxin, tamsulosin, ezetimibe, colchicine, loratadine, cetirizine, loperamide, omeprazole, entecavir, ciprofloxacin, azithromycin, quinine, lumefantrine, chloroquine, amodiaquine, pyrimethamine, proguanil, chlorproguanil-dapsone, sulfadoxine, sulfamethoxypyridazine, mefloquine, atovaquone, primaquine, halofantrine, clindamycin, artemisinin, artemisinin derivatives, artemether, dihydroartemisinin, arteether, artesunate, synthroid/levothyroxine, varenicline, risperidone, memantine, methadone, rosuvastatin, doxycycline, buprenorphine, aripiprazole, caffeine, folic acid, calcium, iodine, iron, zinc, thiamine, niacin, vitamin C, or vitamin D.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the active substance is prednisone, risperidone, memantine, methadone, rosuvastatin, doxycycline, buprenorphine, aripiprazole, meloxicam, or azithromycin.

11. A method for delivering a residence structure, comprising:

administering, into the stomach of a subject, a gastric residence structure in a first, constrained configuration, the residence structure comprising at least three loadable polymeric arms and a second polymeric component coupled to the loadable polymeric arms by at least one degradable linker,

wherein at least one loadable polymeric arm comprises an active substance, and the second component is free of active substance,

unconstraining the residence structure in the stomach to elastically mediate a change in the residence structure to assume a second configuration, the residence structure being retained in the stomach and unable, in the second configuration, to pass through the gastric pyloric orifice of the subject under gastrointestinal physiological conditions.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein at least one loadable polymeric arm comprises at least 10 wt % active substance of the total weight of the loadable polymeric arm.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least one degradable linker comprises an enteric polymer.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the residence structure is retained in the stomach for at least about 1 week.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the residence structure can be retained in the stomach for at least about 48 hours in the second configuration,

wherein at least one loadable polymeric arm is configured to release the active substance in the stomach for at least about 48 hours, at a particular initial average rate as determined over the first 24 hours of release and at an average rate of at least about 1% of the initial average rate over a second 24 hour period after the first 24 hours of release,

wherein the at least one degradable linker, after at least about 48 hours, degrades, dissolves, disassociates, and/or mechanically weakens in the gastric environment under gastrointestinal physiological conditions which results in loss of the second configuration and passage of the residence structure out of the stomach through the gastric pyloric orifice.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the active substance is a biological macromolecule, a small molecule, a vitamin, or a supplement.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the active substance is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, a blood thinning agent, a steroid, an antagonist, a cardiac glycoside, an alpha blocker, a cholesterol absorption inhibitor, a metabolite, an antihistamine, an opioid, a proton-pump inhibitor, an antibiotic, an anti-malarial agent, sulfonamides, a substance abuse treatment, a contraceptive, a stimulant, an analgesic, an anti-analgesic, an anti-inflammatory drug, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, an antipyretic, an immunosuppressant, a neuroprotective agent, an antipsychotic, a statin, an antidepressant, an antiepileptic, an anti-proliferative, an anti-cancer agent, an antimigraine drug, an antimicrobial, an antifungal, an antiviral agent, an antiretroviral agent, an antiparasitic, an antimuscarinic, an anxiolytic, a bacteriostatic, a sedative, a hypnotic, a bronchodilator, an anti-asthma drug, a cardiovascular drug, an anesthetic, an anticoagulant, a dopaminergic, an electrolyte, a gastro-intestinal drug, a muscle relaxant, a parasympathomimetic, an anorectic, an anti-narcoleptic, a protein, a peptide, a hormone, a nucleic acid, a gene construct, an HMG co-A reductase inhibitor, a mineral, a prostaglandin, a nutritional supplement, a corticosteroid, a nutraceutical, a plant extract, or a phytohormone.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the active substance is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, an antidepressant, an anxiolytic, a sedative, a hypnotic, an opioid, an antimigraine drug, a cholesterol absorption inhibitor, a substance abuse treatment, an immunosuppressant, an HMG co-A reductase inhibitor, a blood thinning agent, a cardiac glycoside, an antibiotic, a contraceptive, an analgesic, an anesthetic, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, an antiepileptic, or an alpha blocker.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the active substance is meloxicam, escitalopram, clopidogrel, prasugrel, prednisone, naloxone, montelukast, digoxin, tamsulosin, ezetimibe, colchicine, loratadine, cetirizine, loperamide, omeprazole, entecavir, ciprofloxacin, azithromycin, quinine, lumefantrine, chloroquine, amodiaquine, pyrimethamine, proguanil, chlorproguanil-dapsone, sulfadoxine, sulfamethoxypyridazine, mefloquine, atovaquone, primaquine, halofantrine, clindamycin, artemisinin, artemisinin derivatives, artemether, dihydroartemisinin, arteether, artesunate, synthroid/levothyroxine, varenicline, risperidone, memantine, methadone, rosuvastatin, doxycycline, buprenorphine, aripiprazole, caffeine, folic acid, calcium, iodine, iron, zinc, thiamine, niacin, vitamin C, or vitamin D.

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the active substance is prednisone, risperidone, memantine, methadone, rosuvastatin, doxycycline, buprenorphine, aripiprazole, meloxicam, or azithromycin.

21. A method for delivering a residence structure, comprising:

administering, into the stomach of a subject,

a retaining element and

a gastric residence structure in a first configuration constrained by the retaining element, the residence structure comprising multiple interconnected components including at least a plurality of loadable polymeric components, one or more second polymeric components, and at least a plurality of degradable linkers,

wherein the degradable linkers interconnect the plurality of loadable polymeric components and the one or more second polymeric components,

wherein the plurality of loadable polymeric components comprise an active substance, and the one or more second polymeric components are free of active substance,

releasing the residence structure from the retaining element in the stomach, said release resulting in the residence structure undergoing a change in shape to assume a second configuration, the residence structure being retained in the stomach and unable, in the second configuration, to pass through the gastric pyloric orifice of the subject under gastrointestinal physiological conditions.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein at least one loadable polymeric component comprises at least 10 wt % active substance of the total weight of the loadable polymeric component.

23. The method of claim 21 , wherein at least one degradable linker comprises an enteric polymer.

24. The method of claim 21 , wherein the residence structure is retained in the stomach for at least about 1 week.

25. The method of claim 21 , wherein the residence structure can be retained in the stomach for at least about 48 hours in the second configuration,

wherein at least one loadable polymeric component is configured to release the active substance in the stomach for at least about 48 hours, at a particular initial average rate as determined over the first 24 hours of release and at an average rate of at least about 1% of the initial average rate over a second 24 hour period after the first 24 hours of release,

wherein at least one degradable linker, after at least about 48 hours, degrades, dissolves, disassociates, and/or mechanically weakens in the gastric environment under gastrointestinal physiological conditions which results in loss of the second configuration and passage of the residence structure out of the stomach through the gastric pyloric orifice.

26. The method of claim 21 , wherein the active substance is a biological macromolecule, a small molecule, a vitamin, or a supplement.

27. The method of claim 21 , wherein the active substance is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, a blood thinning agent, a steroid, an antagonist, a cardiac glycoside, an alpha blocker, a cholesterol absorption inhibitor, a metabolite, an antihistamine, an opioid, a proton-pump inhibitor, an antibiotic, an anti-malarial agent, sulfonamides, a substance abuse treatment, a contraceptive, a stimulant, an analgesic, an anti-analgesic, an anti-inflammatory drug, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, an antipyretic, an immunosuppressant, a neuroprotective agent, an antipsychotic, a statin, an antidepressant, an antiepileptic, an anti-proliferative, an anti-cancer agent, an antimigraine drug, an antimicrobial, an antifungal, an antiviral agent, an antiretroviral agent, an antiparasitic, an antimuscarinic, an anxiolytic, a bacteriostatic, a sedative, a hypnotic, a bronchodilator, an anti-asthma drug, a cardiovascular drug, an anesthetic, an anti-coagulant, a dopaminergic, an electrolyte, a gastro-intestinal drug, a muscle relaxant, a parasympathomimetic, an anorectic, an anti-narcoleptic, a protein, a peptide, a hormone, a nucleic acid, a gene construct, an HMG co-A reductase inhibitor, a mineral, a prostaglandin, a nutritional supplement, a corticosteroid, a nutraceutical, a plant extract, or a phytohormone.

28. The method of claim 21 , wherein the active substance is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, an antidepressant, an anxiolytic, a sedative, a hypnotic, an opioid, an antimigraine drug, a cholesterol absorption inhibitor, a substance abuse treatment, an immunosuppressant, an HMG co-A reductase inhibitor, a blood thinning agent, a cardiac glycoside, an antibiotic, a contraceptive, an analgesic, an anesthetic, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, an antiepileptic, or an alpha blocker.

29. The method of claim 21 , wherein the active substance is meloxicam, escitalopram, clopidogrel, prasugrel, prednisone, naloxone, montelukast, digoxin, tamsulosin, ezetimibe, colchicine, loratadine, cetirizine, loperamide, omeprazole, entecavir, ciprofloxacin, azithromycin, quinine, lumefantrine, chloroquine, amodiaquine, pyrimethamine, proguanil, chlorproguanil-dapsone, sulfadoxine, sulfamethoxypyridazine, mefloquine, atovaquone, primaquine, halofantrine, clindamycin, artemisinin, artemisinin derivatives, artemether, dihydroartemisinin, arteether, artesunate, synthroid/levothyroxine, varenicline, risperidone, memantine, methadone, rosuvastatin, doxycycline, buprenorphine, aripiprazole, caffeine, folic acid, calcium, iodine, iron, zinc, thiamine, niacin, vitamin C, or vitamin D.

30. The method of claim 21 , wherein the active substance is prednisone, risperidone, memantine, methadone, rosuvastatin, doxycycline, buprenorphine, aripiprazole, meloxicam, or azithromycin.

31. A method for delivering a residence structure, comprising:

administering, into the stomach of a subject, a gastric residence structure in a first, constrained configuration, the residence structure comprising multiple interconnected components including at least a plurality of loadable polymeric components, one or more second polymeric components, and at least a plurality of degradable linkers,

wherein the degradable linkers interconnect the plurality of loadable polymeric components and the one or more second polymeric components,

wherein the plurality of loadable polymeric components comprise an active substance, and the one or more second polymeric components are free of active substance,

unconstraining the residence structure in the stomach to elastically mediate a change in the residence structure to assume a second configuration, the residence structure being retained in the stomach and unable, in the second configuration, to pass through the gastric pyloric orifice of the subject under gastrointestinal physiological conditions.

32. The method of claim 31 , wherein at least one loadable polymeric component comprises at least 10 wt % active substance of the total weight of the loadable polymeric component.

33. The method of claim 31 , wherein at least one degradable linker comprises an enteric polymer.

34. The method of claim 31 , wherein the residence structure is retained in the stomach for at least about 1 week.

35. The method of claim 31 , wherein the residence structure can be retained in the stomach for at least about 48 hours in the second configuration,

wherein at least one loadable polymeric component is configured to release at least one active substance in the stomach for at least about 48 hours, at a particular initial average rate as determined over the first 24 hours of release and at an average rate of at least about 1% of the initial average rate over a second 24 hour period after the first 24 hours of release,

wherein at least one degradable linker, after at least about 48 hours, degrades, dissolves, disassociates, and/or mechanically weakens in the gastric environment under gastrointestinal physiological conditions which results in loss of the second configuration and passage of the residence structure out of the stomach through the gastric pyloric orifice.

36. The method of claim 31 , wherein the active substance is a biological macromolecule, a small molecule, a vitamin, or a supplement.

37. The method of claim 31 , wherein the active substance is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, a blood thinning agent, a steroid, an antagonist, a cardiac glycoside, an alpha blocker, a cholesterol absorption inhibitor, a metabolite, an antihistamine, an opioid, a proton-pump inhibitor, an antibiotic, an anti-malarial agent, sulfonamides, a substance abuse treatment, a contraceptive, a stimulant, an analgesic, an anti-analgesic, an anti-inflammatory drug, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, an antipyretic, an immunosuppressant, a neuroprotective agent, an antipsychotic, a statin, an antidepressant, an antiepileptic, an anti-proliferative, an anti-cancer agent, an antimigraine drug, an antimicrobial, an antifungal, an antiviral agent, an antiretroviral agent, an antiparasitic, an antimuscarinic, an anxiolytic, a bacteriostatic, a sedative, a hypnotic, a bronchodilator, an anti-asthma drug, a cardiovascular drug, an anesthetic, an anti-coagulant, a dopaminergic, an electrolyte, a gastro-intestinal drug, a muscle relaxant, a parasympathomimetic, an anorectic, an anti-narcoleptic, a protein, a peptide, a hormone, a nucleic acid, a gene construct, an HMG co-A reductase inhibitor, a mineral, a prostaglandin, a nutritional supplement, a corticosteroid, a nutraceutical, a plant extract, or a phytohormone.

38. The method of claim 31 , wherein the active substance is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, an antidepressant, an anxiolytic, a sedative, a hypnotic, an opioid, an antimigraine drug, a cholesterol absorption inhibitor, a substance abuse treatment, an immunosuppressant, an HMG co-A reductase inhibitor, a blood thinning agent, a cardiac glycoside, an antibiotic, a contraceptive, an analgesic, an anesthetic, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, an antiepileptic, or an alpha blocker.

39. The method of claim 31 , wherein the active substance is meloxicam, escitalopram, clopidogrel, prasugrel, prednisone, naloxone, montelukast, digoxin, tamsulosin, ezetimibe, colchicine, loratadine, cetirizine, loperamide, omeprazole, entecavir, ciprofloxacin, azithromycin, quinine, lumefantrine, chloroquine, amodiaquine, pyrimethamine, proguanil, chlorproguanil-dapsone, sulfadoxine, sulfamethoxypyridazine, mefloquine, atovaquone, primaquine, halofantrine, clindamycin, artemisinin, artemisinin derivatives, artemether, dihydroartemisinin, arteether, artesunate, synthroid/levothyroxine, varenicline, risperidone, memantine, methadone, rosuvastatin, doxycycline, buprenorphine, aripiprazole, caffeine, folic acid, calcium, iodine, iron, zinc, thiamine, niacin, vitamin C, or vitamin D.

40. The method of claim 31 , wherein the active substance is prednisone, risperidone, memantine, methadone, rosuvastatin, doxycycline, buprenorphine, aripiprazole, meloxicam, or azithromycin.