Residence structures, systems, and related methods are generally provided. Certain embodiments comprise administering (e.g., orally) a
residence structure to a subject (e.g., a patient) such that the
residence structure is retained at a location internal to the subject for a particular amount of time (e.g., at least about 24 hours) before being released. The
residence structure may be, in some cases, a gastric residence structure. In some embodiments, the structures and systems described herein comprise one or more materials configured for high levels of active substances (e.g., a therapeutic agent) loading, high active substance and / or structure stability in acidic environments, mechanical flexibility and strength in an internal orifice (e.g.,
gastric cavity), easy passage through the GI tract until delivery to at a desired internal orifice (e.g.,
gastric cavity), and / or rapid
dissolution / degradation in a physiological environment (e.g., intestinal environment) and / or in response to a chemical
stimulant (e.g.,
ingestion of a solution that induces rapid
dissolution / degradation). In certain embodiments, the structure has a
modular design, combining a material configured for
controlled release of therapeutic, diagnostic, and / or enhancement agents with a
structural material necessary for gastric residence but configured for controlled and / or tunable degradation /
dissolution to determine the time at which retention shape integrity is lost and the structure passes out of the
gastric cavity. For example, in certain embodiments, the residence structure comprises a first
elastic component, a second component configured to release an active substance (e.g., a therapeutic agent), and, optionally, a
linker. In some such embodiments, the
linker may be configured to degrade such that the residence structure breaks apart and is released from the location internally of the subject after a predetermined amount of time.