Published Paper Details:

Ion exchange resins (IER) are solid, cross-linked water insoluble polymers with an acidic or basic functional group that can exchange their counter ions within the aqueous solutions surrounding them. Based on the nature of the exchangeable ion they are classified as cationic or anionic exchange resins. Sulfonic and carboxylic resins with a polystyrene backbone are generally used in clinical medicine. Resinates (drug-resin complexes) are generally prepared by conventional batch process and column process and evaluated for drug content,percentage complexation,invitro release studies, stability studies etc. IERs have been used as drug carriers in pharmaceutical dosage forms for sustained release due to their better drug-retaining properties and prevention of dose dumping. Now a days, bitter taste is a major limitation to patient compliance especially among peadiatric and geriatric population . A tasteless complex is formed between the drug and resin, thus the bitter sensation is masked. Research over the last several years has revealed that ion exchange resins have found applications in pharmacy and medicine, delivering purposes such as taste masking ,sustained or controlled drug release,sigmoidal release, enhanced drug dissolution, tablet disintegration etc. Several studies have reported the use of IER for drug delivery at the desired site of action. This review addresses the various types of ion exchange resins, mechanism of loading and unloading of drug into IER, formulation of drug resinates and their pharmaceutical and therapeutic applications.