Advantages and limitations of polymer-based delivery systems MCQs With Answer

Polymer-based delivery systems offer versatile platforms for controlled, targeted, and sustained drug release. For B. Pharm students, understanding advantages and limitations of polymer-based delivery systems MCQs With Answer helps consolidate concepts like biodegradable polymers (PLGA, PLA, chitosan), mechanisms (diffusion, erosion, swelling), formulation techniques (emulsion-solvent evaporation, nanoprecipitation), and characterization parameters (encapsulation efficiency, particle size, zeta potential). Key advantages include protection of labile drugs, prolonged therapeutic effect, and site-specific delivery; limitations involve potential toxicity, burst release, stability challenges, and scale-up hurdles. This concise, keyword-rich introduction primes you for practical MCQs emphasizing formulation design, kinetics, and regulatory considerations. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.

Q1. What is a primary advantage of using biodegradable polymers such as PLGA in drug delivery?

• Permanent implant formation in the body
• Controlled drug release through polymer degradation
• Guarantees zero-order release for all drugs
• Eliminates need for sterility

Correct Answer: Controlled drug release through polymer degradation

Q2. Which mechanism is NOT typically involved in drug release from polymer matrices?

• Diffusion through polymeric network
• Polymer erosion or degradation
• Swelling-controlled release
• Covalent drug evaporation

Correct Answer: Covalent drug evaporation

Q3. Encapsulation efficiency primarily measures which parameter?

• Particle size distribution
• Percentage of drug loaded versus total drug used
• Polymer molecular weight
• Surface charge of nanoparticles

Correct Answer: Percentage of drug loaded versus total drug used

Q4. Which polymer is commonly used for mucoadhesive oral drug delivery due to its positive charge?

• Polyethylene glycol (PEG)
• Chitosan
• Polylactic acid (PLA)
• Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)

Correct Answer: Chitosan

Q5. A major limitation of polymeric nanoparticles is:

• Complete absence of burst release
• Potential cytotoxicity from residual solvents or degradation products
• Unlimited drug loading capacity
• Automatic regulatory approval

Correct Answer: Potential cytotoxicity from residual solvents or degradation products

Q6. Which formulation method is commonly used to prepare PLGA nanoparticles for hydrophobic drugs?

• Emulsion solvent evaporation
• Lyophilization without solvent
• Spray-freeze drying
• Hot-melt extrusion at room temperature

Correct Answer: Emulsion solvent evaporation

Q7. Which characterization technique provides information about polymer thermal transitions and crystallinity?

• Dynamic light scattering (DLS)
• Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)
• Zeta potential analysis
• Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis)

Correct Answer: Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)

Q8. Burst release in polymeric systems is primarily caused by:

• Uniform drug distribution in polymer core
• Drug adsorbed or located near particle surface
• Complete crosslinking of polymer chains
• High glass transition temperature above physiological temperature

Correct Answer: Drug adsorbed or located near particle surface

Q9. PEGylation of nanoparticles is used to:

• Increase aggregation in blood
• Reduce recognition by the reticuloendothelial system (RES)
• Increase positive surface charge for cell uptake
• Promote immediate renal clearance

Correct Answer: Reduce recognition by the reticuloendothelial system (RES)

Q10. Which release model describes drug release proportional to the square root of time, often for diffusion-controlled systems?

• Zero-order model
• Higuchi model
• First-order model
• Korsmeyer–Peppas model exclusively

Correct Answer: Higuchi model

Q11. In nanoprecipitation, particle formation is driven mainly by:

• Electrostatic precipitation of polymers
• Drug crystallization from a supersaturated melt
• Rapid solvent diffusion and polymer precipitation
• Thermal coagulation at high temperature

Correct Answer: Rapid solvent diffusion and polymer precipitation

Q12. Which factor DOES NOT significantly influence drug release rate from a polymer matrix?

• Polymer molecular weight
• Drug solubility in release medium
• Color of the polymer
• Polymer crystallinity

Correct Answer: Color of the polymer

Q13. Which polymer is widely used for long-acting injectable formulations and degrades into lactic and glycolic acid?

• PLGA
• Polyacrylamide
• Polycaprolactam
• Polyethylene

Correct Answer: PLGA

Q14. Zeta potential measurement primarily informs about:

• Drug chemical stability
• Surface charge and colloidal stability of particles
• Polymer melt flow index
• Degree of polymer crosslinking

Correct Answer: Surface charge and colloidal stability of particles

Q15. A limitation when scaling up polymer nanoparticle production is:

• Improved batch-to-batch uniformity
• Maintaining identical particle size and encapsulation efficiency
• Reduced regulatory scrutiny
• Unlimited solvent removal efficiency

Correct Answer: Maintaining identical particle size and encapsulation efficiency

Q16. Which crosslinking method is most likely to affect biocompatibility if residual agents remain?

• Ionic crosslinking using calcium ions
• Physical gelation by cooling
• Covalent crosslinking using glutaraldehyde
• Photo-crosslinking using biocompatible photoinitiators

Correct Answer: Covalent crosslinking using glutaraldehyde

Q17. Which property of a drug favors sustained release from a hydrophobic polymer matrix?

• High aqueous solubility
• Hydrophilicity and small molecular size
• High lipophilicity and low aqueous solubility
• Very high volatility

Correct Answer: High lipophilicity and low aqueous solubility

Q18. Mucoadhesive polymers enhance oral bioavailability by:

• Preventing drug absorption across mucosa
• Increasing residence time at absorption site
• Rapidly clearing from the GI tract
• Reducing drug solubility intentionally

Correct Answer: Increasing residence time at absorption site

Q19. Which analytical technique detects chemical interactions between drug and polymer?

• Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)
• Dynamic light scattering (DLS)
• Laser diffraction particle sizing
• Conductivity measurement

Correct Answer: Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)

Q20. Polymer crystallinity typically affects drug release by:

• Having no impact on diffusion
• Increasing diffusion pathways and accelerating release
• Decreasing chain mobility and slowing diffusion-controlled release
• Eliminating polymer degradation entirely

Correct Answer: Decreasing chain mobility and slowing diffusion-controlled release

Q21. Which is an advantage of nanoparticle-based targeted delivery?

• Guaranteed absence of off-target accumulation
• Potential for ligand-mediated targeting to specific cells
• Immediate and total systemic distribution
• Complete avoidance of immune system interaction

Correct Answer: Potential for ligand-mediated targeting to specific cells

Q22. The Korsmeyer–Peppas model is most useful for:

• Predicting drug solubility in water
• Determining release mechanism from polymeric systems
• Measuring particle zeta potential
• Estimating polymer molecular weight

Correct Answer: Determining release mechanism from polymeric systems

Q23. Which sterilization method can degrade some biodegradable polymers like PLGA?

• Gamma irradiation
• Filtration through 0.22 μm filter for nanoparticles
• Dry heat sterilization at low temperature
• Sterile aseptic processing avoiding sterilization

Correct Answer: Gamma irradiation

Q24. For ocular delivery, a desirable polymer property is:

• High irritancy and non-biodegradability
• Mucoadhesion and biocompatibility
• Rapid systemic clearance from eye surface
• Strong hydrophobicity causing precipitation

Correct Answer: Mucoadhesion and biocompatibility

Q25. Which statement about PEG is TRUE?

• PEG always causes severe immunogenicity
• PEGylation increases water solubility and circulation time
• PEG is highly crystalline and insoluble
• PEG accelerates rapid renal filtration of large particles

Correct Answer: PEGylation increases water solubility and circulation time

Q26. An advantage of polymeric microspheres over solutions is:

• Immediate peak plasma concentration only
• Ability to provide sustained release and reduce dosing frequency
• Higher risk of systemic toxicity always
• Elimination of the need for any formulation testing

Correct Answer: Ability to provide sustained release and reduce dosing frequency

Q27. Which factor would likely decrease the rate of polymer degradation in vivo?

• Higher polymer hydrophilicity
• Lower molecular weight
• Increased crystallinity
• Presence of hydrolytic enzymes

Correct Answer: Increased crystallinity

Q28. Surface functionalization of nanoparticles with targeting ligands primarily improves:

• Bulk polymer degradation rate
• Specific cell or tissue uptake
• Intrinsic drug chemical stability only
• Particle density without affecting targeting

Correct Answer: Specific cell or tissue uptake

Q29. A limitation related to regulatory approval of polymer-based systems is:

• Straightforward classification with no additional data
• Need for extensive safety, biodegradation, and residual solvent data
• Absence of any guidance documents from regulatory agencies
• Automatic approval if polymer is FDA-listed

Correct Answer: Need for extensive safety, biodegradation, and residual solvent data

Q30. Stability challenges of polymer-based formulations during storage often include:

• No change in particle size or drug stability ever
• Aggregation, polymer hydrolysis, and drug leakage
• Guaranteed prevention of microbial growth without preservatives
• Spontaneous improvement in encapsulation efficiency over time

Correct Answer: Aggregation, polymer hydrolysis, and drug leakage

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