Advantages and disadvantages of mucosal drug delivery MCQs With Answer

Advantages and disadvantages of mucosal drug delivery MCQs With Answer

This concise introduction reviews transmucosal drug delivery routes—buccal, sublingual, nasal, rectal, vaginal and ocular—highlighting key advantages such as rapid onset, improved bioavailability, avoidance of first‑pass metabolism, local and systemic action, and enhanced patient compliance. It also covers major challenges: enzymatic degradation, mucus and epithelial barriers, limited residence time, formulation stability, dose volume limits, and mucosal irritation. Relevant formulation strategies (mucoadhesive polymers, permeation enhancers, enzyme inhibitors, nanoparticles, prodrugs) and evaluation parameters (flux, permeability, residence time, Cmax/Tmax) are emphasized for B.Pharm students. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.

Q1. Which mucosal route most reliably bypasses hepatic first‑pass metabolism for systemic drug delivery?

• Sublingual
• Oral (swallowed)
• Transdermal
• Intravenous

Correct Answer: Sublingual

Q2. A major advantage of nasal mucosal delivery compared with oral delivery is:

• Unlimited drug dose capacity
• Potential for rapid systemic absorption and nose‑to‑brain transport
• Complete protection from enzymatic degradation
• Permanent mucosal adhesion

Correct Answer: Potential for rapid systemic absorption and nose‑to‑brain transport

Q3. Which of the following is a common mucoadhesive polymer used in buccal formulations?

• Chitosan
• Polylactic acid (PLA)
• Polyethylene glycol (PEG) 400
• Sodium lauryl sulfate

Correct Answer: Chitosan

Q4. What is the principal disadvantage of sublingual tablets for peptide drugs?

• Excessive residence time under the tongue
• High risk of enzymatic degradation by salivary peptidases
• Guaranteed intestinal absorption
• Complete resistance to permeation enhancers

Correct Answer: High risk of enzymatic degradation by salivary peptidases

Q5. Muco‑adhesion primarily improves mucosal drug delivery by:

• Reducing drug potency
• Extending residence time at the absorption site
• Increasing drug molecular weight
• Eliminating the need for permeation enhancers

Correct Answer: Extending residence time at the absorption site

Q6. Mucociliary clearance is a limiting factor for which mucosal route?

• Nasal
• Sublingual
• Vaginal
• Rectal

Correct Answer: Nasal

Q7. Which formulation approach can protect peptides from mucosal enzymatic degradation?

• Nanoencapsulation
• Use of surfactants that denature drug molecules
• Increasing drug crystallinity without carrier
• Reducing dose frequency only

Correct Answer: Nanoencapsulation

Q8. Which drug is a classic example delivered via sublingual mucosal route?

• Nitroglycerin for angina
• Insulin for diabetes (injectable form)
• Amoxicillin oral tablet
• Warfarin oral tablet

Correct Answer: Nitroglycerin for angina

Q9. A disadvantage common to many mucosal routes is:

• Unlimited absorption of hydrophilic macromolecules
• Formation of large depot stores in mucosa
• Variable absorption due to mucus thickness and turnover
• Insensitivity of mucosa to irritants

Correct Answer: Variable absorption due to mucus thickness and turnover

Q10. Which of the following enhances permeability across mucosal epithelium?

• Use of permeation enhancers like bile salts or surfactants
• Removal of all water from the formulation
• Increasing drug molecular size to >10 kDa
• Coating with inert polymers that block contact

Correct Answer: Use of permeation enhancers like bile salts or surfactants

Q11. Which mucosal route is most suitable for delivery of large volumes or suppositories?

• Rectal
• Sublingual
• Nasal
• Ocular

Correct Answer: Rectal

Q12. Nose‑to‑brain drug delivery primarily exploits which anatomical feature?

• Olfactory epithelium and neuronal pathways
• Large surface area of oral mucosa
• Rectal venous plexus
• Conjunctival lymphatics

Correct Answer: Olfactory epithelium and neuronal pathways

Q13. Which parameter is commonly used to evaluate transmucosal drug permeability in vitro?

• Permeability coefficient (Papp)
• Melting point
• Optical rotation
• Flash point

Correct Answer: Permeability coefficient (Papp)

Q14. A key disadvantage of ocular mucosal delivery (conjunctival/scleral) is:

• Rapid lacrimal washout and limited drug residence time
• High drug tolerance to all excipients
• Unlimited systemic uptake with no local action
• Absence of enzymes at the site

Correct Answer: Rapid lacrimal washout and limited drug residence time

Q15. Which strategy can reduce mucosal irritation produced by permeation enhancers?

• Use of mild, reversible enhancers and optimized concentrations
• Increasing enhancer concentration indefinitely
• Using strong acids as enhancers
• Avoiding any polymer or excipient

Correct Answer: Use of mild, reversible enhancers and optimized concentrations

Q16. Which mucosal route is preferred for rapid rescue analgesia using fentanyl formulations?

• Buccal or sublingual
• Rectal suppository
• Topical transdermal patch
• Oral swallow tablet

Correct Answer: Buccal or sublingual

Q17. The primary barrier to hydrophilic drug permeation across mucosa is:

• Tight junctions between epithelial cells
• Excessive lipid solubility of the drug
• High systemic blood flow only
• Presence of hair follicles

Correct Answer: Tight junctions between epithelial cells

Q18. Which excipient class provides bioadhesion by forming hydrogen bonds with mucin?

• Hydrophilic polymers such as carbomers and HPMC
• Anionic surfactants solely
• Non‑polar oils only
• Metallic salts

Correct Answer: Hydrophilic polymers such as carbomers and HPMC

Q19. A significant formulation challenge for vaginal mucosal delivery is:

• Physiological variability due to menstrual cycle and pH changes
• Complete absence of mucus
• Unlimited drug permeability for large proteins
• Zero enzymatic activity

Correct Answer: Physiological variability due to menstrual cycle and pH changes

Q20. Compared with oral tablets, transmucosal films often provide:

• Faster onset, improved bioavailability, and better patient compliance
• Longer hepatic first‑pass effect
• Guaranteed protection from mechanical stress
• Higher systemic toxicity always

Correct Answer: Faster onset, improved bioavailability, and better patient compliance

Q21. Enzyme inhibitors in mucosal formulations are used to:

• Protect labile drugs from local enzymatic degradation
• Increase mucosal enzyme activity
• Promote systemic metabolism in the liver
• Decrease drug solubility intentionally

Correct Answer: Protect labile drugs from local enzymatic degradation

Q22. Which statement about buccal vs sublingual delivery is correct?

• Bucal delivery often provides longer residence time; sublingual gives faster absorption
• Sublingual always has longer residence time than buccal
• Both routes are identical in residence and absorption kinetics
• Bucal route is unsuitable for systemic drug delivery

Correct Answer: Bucal delivery often provides longer residence time; sublingual gives faster absorption

Q23. Which evaluation parameter specifically assesses mucoadhesive strength?

• Detachment force or tensile strength testing
• pH measurement only
• Colorimetric analysis
• Bulk density

Correct Answer: Detachment force or tensile strength testing

Q24. A key safety concern for repeated intranasal use of certain formulations is:

• Chronic mucosal irritation and damage to ciliated epithelium
• Guaranteed systemic accumulation in adipose tissue
• Permanent enhancement of mucosal permeability without recovery
• Total absence of local side effects

Correct Answer: Chronic mucosal irritation and damage to ciliated epithelium

Q25. Prodrug strategies for mucosal delivery aim to:

• Improve permeability or enzymatic stability and then convert to active drug in tissue
• Increase drug hydrophilicity exclusively
• Prevent any conversion to active species
• Make drug inert permanently

Correct Answer: Improve permeability or enzymatic stability and then convert to active drug in tissue

Q26. Which mucosal route is most commonly used for hormone replacement via sprays or gels?

• Nasal
• Sublingual
• Rectal
• Ocular

Correct Answer: Nasal

Q27. Limitation of mucosal drug dosing often includes:

• Small maximal deliverable dose due to limited surface volume and irritation
• Unlimited high doses without systemic effects
• Complete elimination of need for controlled release
• High risk of systemic toxicity from topical creams only

Correct Answer: Small maximal deliverable dose due to limited surface volume and irritation

Q28. Which analytical measurement helps determine in vivo onset of action after mucosal dosing?

• Tmax (time to reach peak plasma concentration)
• Melting point
• Viscosity of the formulation alone
• Optical density

Correct Answer: Tmax (time to reach peak plasma concentration)

Q29. Which of the following is a disadvantage specific to rectal mucosal delivery?

• Patient acceptability and variable absorption due to stool or position
• Unlimited access to brain via olfactory nerves
• Excessively fast onset compared with IV always
• Complete protection from enzymatic metabolism

Correct Answer: Patient acceptability and variable absorption due to stool or position

Q30. Incorporation of nanoparticles into mucosal formulations primarily aims to:

• Enhance stability, control release, improve permeation, and protect labile drugs
• Eliminate mucoadhesion completely
• Increase molecular weight to impede absorption
• Make formulations more prone to immediate enzymatic breakdown

Correct Answer: Enhance stability, control release, improve permeation, and protect labile drugs

G S Sachin

I am a Registered Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948, and the founder of PharmacyFreak.com. I hold a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Rungta College of Pharmaceutical Science and Research. With a strong academic foundation and practical knowledge, I am committed to providing accurate, easy-to-understand content to support pharmacy students and professionals. My aim is to make complex pharmaceutical concepts accessible and useful for real-world application.

Mail- Sachin@pharmacyfreak.com