Buccal drug delivery systems provide a promising transmucosal route that bypasses hepatic first‑pass metabolism and enhances systemic bioavailability. For B.Pharm students, understanding formulation of buccal tablets, mucoadhesive films and patches, and gels is vital—covering mucoadhesive polymers (chitosan, carbopol, HPMC), plasticizers, permeation enhancers, and controlled‑release strategies. Practical evaluation techniques such as in vitro release, ex vivo permeation (Franz cell), mucoadhesion strength testing, residence time, and physicochemical characterization (DSC, FTIR, SEM) are emphasized. Key factors—saliva, pH, enzymatic degradation, and patient acceptability—guide rational design and stability considerations. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.
Q1. Which polymer is commonly used as a mucoadhesive agent in buccal films?
- Chitosan
- Polyethylene glycol
- Sodium chloride
- Silicon dioxide
Correct Answer: Chitosan
Q2. What is a principal advantage of buccal drug delivery compared with oral swallowing?
- Increased first‑pass metabolism
- Bypasses first‑pass hepatic metabolism
- Requires larger doses
- Lower patient compliance
Correct Answer: Bypasses first‑pass hepatic metabolism
Q3. Which manufacturing technique is most commonly used to prepare mucoadhesive buccal films?
- Solvent casting
- Hot melt extrusion at high temperature
- Spray drying onto pellets
- Lyophilization of tablets
Correct Answer: Solvent casting
Q4. Which parameter directly measures mucoadhesive strength in bench tests?
- Swelling index
- Detachment force
- Thickness
- Weight variation
Correct Answer: Detachment force
Q5. Which of the following is a commonly used permeation enhancer for buccal delivery?
- Sodium lauryl sulfate
- Magnesium stearate
- Talc
- Microcrystalline cellulose
Correct Answer: Sodium lauryl sulfate
Q6. Ideal drug characteristics for buccal delivery include:
- High daily dose (>500 mg) and high molecular weight
- Potent, low dose requirement, and suitable lipophilicity
- Strongly irritant to mucosa
- Complete insolubility in saliva
Correct Answer: Potent, low dose requirement, and suitable lipophilicity
Q7. Which apparatus is commonly used for ex vivo permeation studies of buccal formulations?
- Franz diffusion cell
- Paddle dissolution apparatus only
- Brookfield viscometer
- Electronic tongue
Correct Answer: Franz diffusion cell
Q8. Folding endurance test for buccal films primarily assesses:
- Drug content uniformity
- Film flexibility (resistance to repeated folding)
- Permeation across mucosa
- Surface pH
Correct Answer: Film flexibility (resistance to repeated folding)
Q9. Which buccal system type is most capable of providing near zero‑order drug release?
- Matrix systems with rapidly dissolving polymer
- Reservoir systems with a rate‑controlling membrane
- Immediate release lozenges
- Effervescent tablets
Correct Answer: Reservoir systems with a rate‑controlling membrane
Q10. The buccal mucosa is lined by which type of epithelium?
- Simple squamous keratinized epithelium
- Stratified squamous non‑keratinized epithelium
- Columnar ciliated epithelium
- Transitional epithelium
Correct Answer: Stratified squamous non‑keratinized epithelium
Q11. Mucoadhesion of polymers to buccal mucosa is primarily mediated by:
- Covalent bond formation with mucin
- Hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions with mucin
- Hydrophobic bonding only
- Ionic precipitation of mucosal proteins
Correct Answer: Hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions with mucin
Q12. Which excipient commonly acts as a plasticizer in buccal films?
- Glycerol (glycerin)
- Calcium carbonate
- Microcrystalline cellulose
- Colloidal silica
Correct Answer: Glycerol (glycerin)
Q13. Which type of drug is least suitable for buccal delivery?
- Potent opioid with low dose requirement
- Low molecular weight lipophilic drug
- Drugs requiring very large oral doses (hundreds of mg)
- Nicotine replacement compounds
Correct Answer: Drugs requiring very large oral doses (hundreds of mg)
Q14. In permeation studies, the steady‑state flux (Jss) is used to calculate which parameter?
- Permeability coefficient (P)
- Melting point
- Viscosity
- Surface tension
Correct Answer: Permeability coefficient (P)
Q15. Which two factors significantly influence mucoadhesive strength of a polymer?
- Polymer color and odor
- Polymer molecular weight and degree of hydration
- Tablet shape and size only
- API pKa and melting point only
Correct Answer: Polymer molecular weight and degree of hydration
Q16. Which analytical method is preferable for precise assay of drug content in buccal formulations?
- Thin layer chromatography (TLC)
- High‑performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)
- Simple visual inspection
- Paper chromatography
Correct Answer: High‑performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)
Q17. Which polymer is widely used as a swelling matrix former in controlled‑release buccal systems?
- Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC)
- Sodium chloride
- Hydroquinone
- Magnesium oxide
Correct Answer: Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC)
Q18. Which imaging technique can noninvasively evaluate in vivo buccal dosage form residence time?
- Gamma scintigraphy
- Optical microscopy on biopsy
- Titration analysis
- Polarimetry
Correct Answer: Gamma scintigraphy
Q19. Which of the following drugs has been successfully formulated for buccal or transmucosal delivery?
- Buprenorphine
- Amoxicillin (very high dose oral only)
- Insulin in tablet form (commonly used)
- Vitamin C tablets
Correct Answer: Buprenorphine
Q20. Which technique is most suitable to detect drug‑polymer interaction in formulated buccal films?
- Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)
- Paper chromatography
- Opacity measurement
- pH paper test
Correct Answer: Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)
Q21. A high folding endurance value for a buccal film indicates:
- High brittleness
- Good flexibility
- Poor drug release
- Low mucoadhesion
Correct Answer: Good flexibility
Q22. The typical pH range of human saliva relevant for buccal formulations is approximately:
- 1.0–2.0
- 3.5–4.5
- 6.2–7.4
- 9.0–10.5
Correct Answer: 6.2–7.4
Q23. Compared with buccal tablets, buccal films generally offer which patient advantage?
- Reduced comfort and increased swallowing difficulty
- Improved patient comfort and ease of application
- Higher incidence of systemic side effects always
- Guaranteed taste masking without excipients
Correct Answer: Improved patient comfort and ease of application
Q24. A major stability concern for buccal films stored in humid environments is:
- Complete chemical inertness
- Moisture uptake (hygroscopicity) and microbial contamination
- Immediate increase in melting point
- Spontaneous polymerization
Correct Answer: Moisture uptake (hygroscopicity) and microbial contamination
Q25. Which mathematical model is commonly used to analyze release mechanism from polymeric buccal matrices?
- Korsmeyer‑Peppas model
- Arrhenius equation for color change
- Beer–Lambert law for viscosity
- Henderson–Hasselbalch for folding endurance
Correct Answer: Korsmeyer‑Peppas model
Q26. Mucoadhesive detachment force is usually expressed in which unit?
- Degree Celsius (°C)
- Newtons (N)
- Mol/L
- Percentage (%)
Correct Answer: Newtons (N)
Q27. Controlled release from a buccal patch is commonly achieved by:
- Using a rate‑controlling membrane or matrix former
- Increasing tablet weight only
- Removing all polymers
- Adding only sweeteners
Correct Answer: Using a rate‑controlling membrane or matrix former
Q28. Which polymer is known to transiently open epithelial tight junctions and enhance buccal permeation?
- Chitosan
- Starch
- Sucrose
- Cellulose acetate butyrate (inert filler)
Correct Answer: Chitosan
Q29. Which analytical technique best evaluates surface morphology and porosity of buccal films?
- Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)
- UV spectrophotometry
- pH meter
- Thermogravimetric analysis only
Correct Answer: Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)
Q30. An acceptable thickness range commonly targeted for buccal films to balance comfort and drug load is approximately:
- 1–5 mm
- 50–200 µm
- 10–20 cm
- 500–1000 µm
Correct Answer: 50–200 µm
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.
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