Complexation of risperidone with a taste-masking resin: Novel application of near infra-red and chemical imaging to evaluate complexes

The purpose of the study was to investigate the complexation between a weakly basic drug (risperidone) and an ion exchange resin (amberlite IRP-64) used as a taste-masking agent via two preparation methods: physical mixture and solvent evaporation. Both methods were prepared in different drug-to-resin ratios by weight (1:1, 1:2, 1:4, 1:6). Physicochemical characterizations were performed using differential scanning calorimetry, x-ray diffraction, infra-red spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, near infra-red spectroscopy, chemical imaging and drug release studies. These physicochemical techniques revealed that risperidone formed complex with the resin via the solvent evaporation method where enhanced dissolution occurred but not with the physical mixtures.