TASTE MASKING AND EVALUATION METHODS FOR ORODISPERSIBLE TABLETS

Abstract

Recent advances in technology prompted researchers and scientists to develop oral disintegrating tablets (ODTs) with improved patient convenience and compliance. ODTs are solid unit dosage form which dissolve or disintegrate rapidly in the mouth without water or chewing. Taste masking is of critical importance for active ingredients with an unpleasant bitter taste, due to the need for increased patient compliance. Taste masking technology involves the development of a system that prevents the active substance interacting with the taste buds, thereby eliminating or reducing the negative sensory response. Conventional disintegration tests for ordinary tablets may not allow precise measurement of the disintegration time of ODTs because of their fast disintegration. It is also hard to distinguish among ODTs, which release their ingredients very quickly. In vitro testing may not always reflect the real in vivo disintegration of tablets. This review describes the various aspects of taste masking technologies developed for ODT, evaluation tests along with determination of disintegration time of ODTs.