Bioadhesive Polymers

A method for forming a bioadhesive polymer, comprising reacting a polymer capable of reacting with a primary or secondary amino moiety with one or more compounds comprising:

• a) an aromatic moiety comprising two or more hydroxyl substituents, methoxy substituents, substituents hydrolyzable to hydroxyl substituents, or a combination thereof, and
• b) a primary or secondary amino moiety,
• wherein the cumulative amount of the compound not functionalized to a polymer backbone that is converted to dopamine when infused into rat striatum is at least 65% less than for an equimolar amount of L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine or wherein the blood-brain barrier is substantially impermeable to the compound not functionalized to a polymer backbone, or
• a method for forming a bioadhesive polymer, comprising
• reacting a monomer capable of reacting with a primary or secondary amino moiety with one or more compounds comprising:
• a) an aromatic moiety comprising two or more hydroxyl substituents, methoxy substituents, substituents hydrolyzable to hydroxyl substituents, or a combination thereof, and
• b) a primary or secondary amino moiety,
• wherein the cumulative amount of the compound not functionalized to a polymer backbone that is converted to dopamine when infused into rat striatum is at least 65% less than for an equimolar amount of L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine or wherein the blood-brain barrier is substantially impermeable to the compound not functionalized to a polymer backbone, and
• polymerizing the monomer.

A method of prolonging contact of a pharmaceutical composition with a tissue, comprising contacting the pharmaceutical composition with a bioadhesive polymer comprising a polymer backbone functionalized with residues of one or more compounds comprising:

• a) an aromatic moiety comprising two or more hydroxyl substituents, methoxy substituents, substituents hydrolyzable to hydroxyl substituents, or a combination thereof, and
• b) a primary or secondary amino moiety,
• wherein the cumulative amount of the compound not functionalized to a polymer backbone that is converted to dopamine when infused into rat striatum is at least 65% less than for an equimolar amount of L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine or wherein the blood-brain barrier is substantially impermeable to the compound not functionalized to a polymer backbone,
• wherein all or a fraction of the bioadhesive polymer contacts the tissue, or
• a method of prolonging contact of a pharmaceutical composition with a tissue, comprising contacting the pharmaceutical composition with a bioadhesive composition including a blend of a polymer and one or more compounds comprising:
• a) an aromatic moiety comprising two or more hydroxyl substituents, methoxy substituents, substituents hydrolyzable to hydroxyl substituents, or a combination thereof, and
• b) a primary or secondary amino moiety,
• wherein the cumulative amount of the compound not functionalized to a polymer backbone that is converted to dopamine when infused into rat striatum is at least 65% less than for an equimolar amount of L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine or wherein the blood-brain barrier is substantially impermeable to the compound not functionalized to a polymer backbone.