MPharm Master of Pharmacy Master of Pharmacy: Pharmaceutical Technology and Drug Delivery Systems 2

Question 1

Which transdermal drug delivery parameter measures the maximum rate of drug flux across a unit area of skin?

Accepted Answer

Steady-state flux (Jss)

Answer

Bioavailability fraction (F)

Answer

Volume of distribution (Vd)

Answer

First-pass extraction ratio

Question 2

In spray drying of pharmaceutical powders, what is the primary variable that controls final particle size?

Accepted Answer

Atomization pressure or nozzle tip speed

Answer

Inlet air temperature

Answer

Feed solution concentration

Answer

Drying chamber volume

Question 3

Which release profile is described as 'zero-order' drug release?

Accepted Answer

Release rate is constant and independent of drug concentration

Answer

Release rate decreases exponentially with time

Answer

Release rate is proportional to the square root of time (Higuchi model)

Answer

Release rate increases initially then plateaus

Question 4

What is the purpose of the 'pore former' component added to ethylcellulose membrane coatings on pellets?

Accepted Answer

To dissolve and create micropores that control drug permeation

Answer

To increase coating adhesion to the pellet core

Answer

To reduce the burst release effect

Answer

To improve color uniformity of the coating

Question 5

In the preparation of microspheres by solvent evaporation, which method is used when the drug is dissolved in the polymer solution?

Accepted Answer

Single emulsion (O/W) solvent evaporation

Answer

Coacervation method

Answer

Spray congealing

Answer

Oil-in-oil (O/O) emulsion evaporation

Question 6

Which lyophilization (freeze-drying) stage involves removal of bound or unfrozen water under reduced pressure and elevated temperature?

Accepted Answer

Secondary drying (desorption)

Answer

Primary drying (sublimation)

Answer

Pre-freezing stage

Answer

Annealing phase

Question 7

What is the critical micelle concentration (CMC) in the context of surfactant-based drug formulations?

Accepted Answer

The minimum concentration above which surfactant molecules form aggregated micellar structures

Answer

The concentration at which a surfactant begins to denature proteins

Answer

The maximum solubility of a surfactant in organic solvents

Answer

The concentration at which emulsion phase inversion occurs