Ion Exchange Resins: Drug Delivery and Therapeutic Applications
 Inderbir SINGH*, Ashish K. REHNI*, Rohit KALRA*, Gaurav JOSHI* , Manoj KUMAR*, Hassan Y. ABOUL-ENEIN**,^o
 *Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chandigarh-Patiala National Highway, Rajpura, Patiala, Punjab, India
 ** Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry Department , National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo 12311, Egypt

^oCorresponding Author

Summary

Ion exchange resins are water insoluble cross-linked polymers containing a salt-forming group at repeating positions on the polymer chain. They can be classified as cationic or anionic exchange resins depending upon the nature of the exchangeable ion of the resin as a cation or anion, respectively. The degree of cross-linking and particle size of the resin substantially modify its properties and applications. Ion exchange resins can be used to overcome various pharmaceutical formulation problems including bitter taste, poor stability, deliquescence, and poor dissolution of the drugs. Resins have also been used as superdisintegrants in tablet formulations because of their swelling properties. Modified release of drugs from resinate (drug – resin complexes) is another potential application of ion exchange resins. Because of the versatile utility of ion exchange resins, they are being used for various drug delivery and therapeutic applications.
 

Key Words

Ion exchange resins, exchangeable ion, taste masking, modified release.