Formulation requirements for pellets MCQs With Answer — This concise guide introduces B.Pharm students to essential pellet formulation concepts. Pellet drug delivery uses multiparticulate systems that demand precise control of particle size, shape, density, porosity, and mechanical strength to ensure flow, content uniformity, and predictable drug release. Key formulation variables include binder type and concentration, polymeric coatings, drug loading, solvent selection, process parameters (spheronization, extrusion, layering), and drying methods (fluid-bed). Understanding testing methods—friability, sieve analysis, dissolution, and microscopy—is vital for quality and stability. These keyword-rich topics prepare you for exam-style practice and formulation design challenges. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.
Q1. Which parameter most directly influences pellet flowability during tabletting or capsule filling?
- Drug solubility
- Particle size distribution
- Coating color
- Storage humidity
Correct Answer: Particle size distribution
Q2. What is the primary purpose of using binders in pellet formulation?
- Increase drug solubility
- Enhance mechanical strength of pellets
- Accelerate dissolution rate
- Prevent microbial growth
Correct Answer: Enhance mechanical strength of pellets
Q3. Which pelletization technique is best known for producing highly spherical and uniform pellets?
- Spray coating
- Spheronization
- Melt granulation without spheronizer
- Dry powder compaction
Correct Answer: Spheronization
Q4. Which property of pellets most affects gastric emptying and transit behavior?
- Color
- Particle density
- Drug assay
- Coating solvent
Correct Answer: Particle density
Q5. In extrusion–spheronization, which step immediately follows wet mass extrusion?
- Drying in oven
- Spheronization to round the extrudates
- Coating with polymer
- Compression into tablets
Correct Answer: Spheronization to round the extrudates
Q6. Which excipient class is commonly used as pore formers in sustained-release pellet coatings?
- Plasticizers
- Pore formers (e.g., polyethylene glycol)
- Preservatives
- Colorants
Correct Answer: Pore formers (e.g., polyethylene glycol)
Q7. What is the typical desirable size range for oral pellets to ensure consistent GI transit and release?
- 10–50 micrometers
- 0.5–2 mm
- 5–10 cm
- 3–5 mm
Correct Answer: 0.5–2 mm
Q8. Which analytical test measures the tendency of pellets to break or generate fines during handling?
- Friability testing
- DSC thermal analysis
- FTIR spectroscopy
- pH measurement
Correct Answer: Friability testing
Q9. For controlled-release pellets, which coating property is critical for modulating drug release rate?
- Coating thickness and polymer permeability
- Coating color
- Coating application temperature only
- Coating manufacturer’s brand
Correct Answer: Coating thickness and polymer permeability
Q10. What role do plasticizers play in polymeric coatings of pellets?
- Reduce coating flexibility and increase brittleness
- Enhance polymer film flexibility and reduce cracking
- Increase pellet density significantly
- Act as preservatives to prevent spoilage
Correct Answer: Enhance polymer film flexibility and reduce cracking
Q11. Which solvent selection criterion is most important during pellet layering processes?
- Boiling point only
- Solubility of drug/excipient and evaporation rate
- Color of the solvent
- Price per liter only
Correct Answer: Solubility of drug/excipient and evaporation rate
Q12. What is the effect of increasing binder concentration on pellet properties?
- Decrease in mechanical strength
- Increased pellet hardness and potentially reduced dissolution
- Increased friability
- Immediate drug release acceleration
Correct Answer: Increased pellet hardness and potentially reduced dissolution
Q13. Which measurement assesses pellet surface morphology and roughness?
- UV–Vis spectroscopy
- Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)
- pH meter
- Tap density alone
Correct Answer: Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)
Q14. Why is narrow particle size distribution important in pellet batches?
- To reduce manufacturing costs only
- To ensure uniform coating, dose uniformity, and consistent release
- To make pellets colorful
- To increase microbial contamination
Correct Answer: To ensure uniform coating, dose uniformity, and consistent release
Q15. What is the main advantage of multiparticulate pellet systems over single-unit tablets?
- Higher manufacturing complexity only
- Reduced risk of dose dumping and more uniform GI distribution
- They always require lower drug doses
- They cannot be coated
Correct Answer: Reduced risk of dose dumping and more uniform GI distribution
Q16. Which parameter is NOT typically critical in pellet formulation?
- Pellet porosity
- Angle of repose
- Pellet taste when swallowed
- Drug-excipient compatibility
Correct Answer: Pellet taste when swallowed
Q17. Which technique is commonly used to apply a controlled-release polymer coating to pellets?
- Fluid-bed coating (Wurster process)
- Direct compression
- Cold pressing without equipment
- Lyophilization
Correct Answer: Fluid-bed coating (Wurster process)
Q18. What does high pellet porosity typically lead to in terms of drug release?
- Slower drug release due to impermeability
- Faster drug release because of increased solvent penetration
- No effect on release
- Immediate pellet disintegration in all cases
Correct Answer: Faster drug release because of increased solvent penetration
Q19. Which excipient is often used as a spheronization aid to improve pellet roundness?
- Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC)
- Sodium chloride
- Citric acid only
- Glycerin as a bulk filler
Correct Answer: Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC)
Q20. Which process parameter in a spheronizer most influences pellet size and surface smoothness?
- Spheronizer plate speed and time
- Ambient room color
- Labeling of pellets
- Manufacturer of raw drug only
Correct Answer: Spheronizer plate speed and time
Q21. During layered pellet manufacturing, what is a critical control to prevent agglomeration?
- Excessive layering solvent and insufficient drying
- Using only hydrophobic drugs
- Applying no binder at all
- Skipping coating altogether
Correct Answer: Excessive layering solvent and insufficient drying
Q22. Which in-process test assesses size distribution of pellets?
- HPLC assay
- Sieve analysis (sieving)
- Moisture content by Karl Fischer only
- FTIR of polymer
Correct Answer: Sieve analysis (sieving)
Q23. What is the effect of high plasticizer concentration in a coating formulation?
- Increased film brittleness
- Increased film flexibility and possible tackiness
- Elimination of the need for polymer
- Greater pellet porosity
Correct Answer: Increased film flexibility and possible tackiness
Q24. Which release mechanism is commonly targeted with reservoir-coated pellets?
- Immediate bolus release without control
- Diffusion-controlled release through the polymer membrane
- Release only by enzymatic degradation in mouth
- Release by magnetic stimulation
Correct Answer: Diffusion-controlled release through the polymer membrane
Q25. What is a common stability concern specific to wet pellet formation processes?
- Loss of color of container
- Drug degradation due to moisture and heat during drying
- Decrease in pellet density to zero
- Automatic sterilization
Correct Answer: Drug degradation due to moisture and heat during drying
Q26. Which parameter is evaluated to predict compression behavior of pellets into tablets?
- Friability, tensile strength, and deformation characteristics
- Only pellet color
- Coating solvent smell
- Tap water hardness
Correct Answer: Friability, tensile strength, and deformation characteristics
Q27. For pellets intended for modified release, which polymer property is most relevant?
- Polymer glass transition and permeability
- Polymer vendor logo
- Only polymer cost
- Number of letters in polymer name
Correct Answer: Polymer glass transition and permeability
Q28. What is the significance of drug-excipient compatibility studies in pellet formulation?
- They are unnecessary for pellets
- They identify potential chemical interactions affecting stability and performance
- They only check color matching
- They ensure faster production speed
Correct Answer: They identify potential chemical interactions affecting stability and performance
Q29. Which drying method is commonly used for wet-formed pellets to remove residual solvent?
- Fluid-bed drying
- Freeze–thaw cycling
- Storage at room temperature without airflow
- Microwave cooking only
Correct Answer: Fluid-bed drying
Q30. What is content uniformity in pellet batches intended to ensure?
- Each pellet has identical color
- Each dosage unit contains the intended amount of drug within specified limits
- Pellets all have the same density only
- Pellets will not require coating
Correct Answer: Each dosage unit contains the intended amount of drug within specified limits
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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