The production of a palatable dosage form is very important for patient compliance, which in turn decides the commercial success of the product. The masking of unpleasant taste in orally-disintegrating tablets and chewable tablets is therefore an important consideration in the formulation of many therapeutic agents and is achieved by minimizing direct contact between the active species and the taste receptors in the buccal cavity of the subject. In order to improve the palatability of a pharmaceutical product, many techniques have been developed, which have not only improved the taste, but also the stability of the drug in the formulation and performance of the product. Use of ion exchange is one of the methods for taste masking.Ion Exchange Resins (IERs) for Taste Masking Ion exchange (IE) involves the reversible interchange of ions (of like charge) between a liquid and a solid phase, with no radical change in the structure and properties of the solid. 1) IERs are high molecular weight polymers and most frequently employed polymeric network is a copolymer of styrene and divinylbenzene. They have wide applications in enhancing the stability of sensitive drugs, sustaining the release of drug, 2) as disintegrating agents and for masking the bitter taste of drug.3) Drug binding to the resin can be achieved by two processes. First approach is repeated elution of drug solution through a column of swollen activated resin bead where drug is allowed to interact with binding sites of resin and second is by prolonged contact of resin with the drug solution.
4-7)Drug molecules get adsorbed on the IER, resulting in the formation of an insoluble adsorbate or resinate by forming weak ionic bonds which does not dissociate under the salivary pH conditions, hence, masks the unpleasant taste of drugs.After administration of resinate, the release of drug from the resin depends on the properties of the resin and the ionic environment within the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Drug molecules get released from resin by exchanging with appropriately charged ions in the GIT and free drug is available for absorption.8) The IER devoid of drug is eliminated or biodegraded from or at the site of delivery.
9)Depending on nature of monomer and their ionic strength, IER can be classified into four major classes: strong acid cation exchange (CE) resin, weak acid CE resin, strong base anion exchange (AE) resin and weak base AE resin. Strong acid CE resins constituted of sulfonated styrene divinylbenzene copolymer are functional throughout the entire pH range and weak acid CE resins function at pH values above 6.0. Both can be used for masking the taste of basic drugs. Similarly, strong base AE resins are functional throughout the entire pH range, while the weak base AE resins function well below pH 7.0. 10) These can be used for masking the taste of acidic drugs.Application of IER for masking the bitter taste of drugs has been explored in many investigations. Oral suspension of quinolones (orbifloxacin) and/or their derivatives are prepared by IE...