Introduction: Nasopulmonary drug delivery integrates nasal and pulmonary routes to achieve local, systemic, or nose-to-brain therapy. For B. Pharm students, understanding anatomy, mucociliary clearance, particle size, deposition mechanisms (impaction, sedimentation, diffusion), absorption enhancers, mucoadhesive polymers, and formulation types (solutions, suspensions, powders, gels) is essential. Key principles include avoiding enzymatic degradation, optimizing residence time, targeting the olfactory region for direct brain delivery, and selecting appropriate devices (sprays, nebulizers, DPIs). Regulatory, safety, and stability considerations guide formulation design. Core keywords: nasopulmonary drug delivery, nasal drug delivery, pulmonary delivery, mucociliary clearance, olfactory pathway, particle size, mucoadhesion. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.
Q1. Which anatomical region of the nasal cavity is primarily targeted for nose-to-brain drug delivery?
- Respiratory region
- Vestibule
- Olfactory region
- Nasopharynx
Correct Answer: Olfactory region
Q2. What is the main clearance mechanism that limits nasal residence time of formulations?
- Phagocytosis
- Mucociliary clearance
- Transcytosis
- Hepatic metabolism
Correct Answer: Mucociliary clearance
Q3. For deposition in the lower airways, which aerodynamic particle size (MMAD) is most appropriate?
- >10 µm
- 5–10 µm
- 1–5 µm
- <0.1 µm
Correct Answer: 1–5 µm
Q4. Which formulation approach increases nasal residence time by adhesive interaction with mucus?
- Surfactant micelles
- Mucoadhesive polymers (e.g., chitosan)
- High-volatility solvents
- Non-ionic osmolytes
Correct Answer: Mucoadhesive polymers (e.g., chitosan)
Q5. Which deposition mechanism dominates for particles >5 µm in the nasal cavity?
- Brownian diffusion
- Sedimentation
- Inertial impaction
- Electrostatic attraction
Correct Answer: Inertial impaction
Q6. Which device type is most suitable for delivering a dry powder to the nasal mucosa?
- Nasal spray pump
- Metered dose inhaler (pMDI)
- Dry powder insufflator
- Nebulizer
Correct Answer: Dry powder insufflator
Q7. Which factor most strongly influences aerosol deposition pattern in the lungs?
- Drug pKa
- Breathing pattern and inspiratory flow
- Tablet hardness
- Packaging color
Correct Answer: Breathing pattern and inspiratory flow
Q8. Why are absorption enhancers used in nasal formulations?
- To change drug color
- To increase mucociliary clearance
- To transiently increase epithelial permeability
- To accelerate hepatic metabolism
Correct Answer: To transiently increase epithelial permeability
Q9. Which physicochemical property of a drug favors passive transcellular nasal absorption?
- High molecular weight and high polarity
- Low lipophilicity and ionized state
- Moderate lipophilicity and low molecular weight
- Strong positive charge and >1000 Da
Correct Answer: Moderate lipophilicity and low molecular weight
Q10. The primary advantage of nasal delivery over oral administration is:
- Higher susceptibility to gastric enzymes
- Avoidance of first-pass hepatic metabolism
- Lower formulation cost always
- Guaranteed complete bioavailability
Correct Answer: Avoidance of first-pass hepatic metabolism
Q11. In nose-to-brain delivery, which neural pathway besides the olfactory nerve is important?
- Optic nerve
- Vagus nerve
- Trigeminal nerve
- Facial nerve
Correct Answer: Trigeminal nerve
Q12. Which parameter describes the mass median aerodynamic diameter of an aerosol?
- Geometric standard deviation
- MMAD — diameter at which 50% mass is contained in smaller particles
- Count median diameter based on number distribution
- Optical diameter from light scattering
Correct Answer: MMAD — diameter at which 50% mass is contained in smaller particles
Q13. Which excipient is commonly used in nasal sprays as a preservative but may cause ciliary toxicity?
- Sodium chloride
- Benzalkonium chloride
- Glycerin
- Polysorbate 80
Correct Answer: Benzalkonium chloride
Q14. What is the role of in situ gelling systems in nasal delivery?
- They reduce drug solubility drastically
- They form gels upon administration to prolong residence time
- They increase spray velocity only
- They convert drug into volatile form
Correct Answer: They form gels upon administration to prolong residence time
Q15. Which analytical technique is commonly used to visualize nasal deposition patterns in vivo?
- Mass spectrometry with no imaging
- Gamma scintigraphy
- Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy on tissue sections
- Thermogravimetric analysis
Correct Answer: Gamma scintigraphy
Q16. Which chemical modification can protect peptide drugs from nasal enzymatic degradation?
- Adding free amine groups
- Prodrug formation or PEGylation
- Decreasing molecular weight
- Increasing formulation acidity to pH 1
Correct Answer: Prodrug formation or PEGylation
Q17. Which statement about mucociliary clearance rate and nasal drug absorption is true?
- Faster clearance increases absorption time
- Slower clearance decreases drug contact time
- Faster clearance reduces residence time and may reduce absorption
- Clearance has no effect on absorption
Correct Answer: Faster clearance reduces residence time and may reduce absorption
Q18. For systemic delivery via pulmonary route, which property of particles is undesirable?
- High respirable fraction (1–5 µm)
- Aggregation increasing effective diameter
- Appropriate hygroscopicity to avoid growth
- Controlled-release matrix
Correct Answer: Aggregation increasing effective diameter
Q19. Which polymer is commonly used for nasal mucoadhesion and also acts as a permeation enhancer?
- Polyethylene glycol (PEG 4000)
- Chitosan
- Polyvinyl chloride
- Cellulose acetate phthalate
Correct Answer: Chitosan
Q20. What does the term ‘first-pass effect’ refer to in pharmacokinetics relevant to nasal delivery?
- Metabolism occurring in the lungs before absorption
- Initial absorption into lymphatics only
- Hepatic metabolism that reduces oral bioavailability, often avoided by nasal route
- Immediate renal excretion after nasal absorption
Correct Answer: Hepatic metabolism that reduces oral bioavailability, often avoided by nasal route
Q21. Which formulation parameter is critical to minimize nasal irritation and ensure compatibility?
- Viscosity only
- pH and osmolarity close to nasal physiological values
- Maximum possible surfactant concentration
- High ethanol content
Correct Answer: pH and osmolarity close to nasal physiological values
Q22. Which respiratory region is most involved in gas exchange and targeted by systemic pulmonary delivery?
- Trachea
- Bronchi
- Alveolar region
- Nasal vestibule
Correct Answer: Alveolar region
Q23. Which in vitro test is commonly used to evaluate nasal spray droplet size distribution?
- Dissolution testing in paddle apparatus
- Laser diffraction or cascade impaction
- Flame photometry
- Karl Fischer titration
Correct Answer: Laser diffraction or cascade impaction
Q24. Which strategy can enhance transcellular transport of polar drugs across nasal epithelium?
- Use of tight junction openers only
- Encapsulation in lipophilic nanoparticles or prodrug design
- Decreasing particle size to >10 µm
- Avoiding excipients altogether
Correct Answer: Encapsulation in lipophilic nanoparticles or prodrug design
Q25. Which safety concern is specifically associated with chronic intranasal use of certain preservatives?
- Systemic hypertension in all patients
- Ciliary toxicity and impaired mucociliary function
- Increased liver enzymes universally
- Permanent tooth staining
Correct Answer: Ciliary toxicity and impaired mucociliary function
Q26. Which characteristic of a nasal powder formulation promotes deposition in the upper nasal cavity?
- Very small respirable particles (<1 µm)
- Higher particle density and coarser particle size
- Use of highly volatile solvents
- Formulation as a liquid aerosol
Correct Answer: Higher particle density and coarser particle size
Q27. Which clinical application exploits nasal administration for acute systemic effect?
- Topical antifungals for toenail
- Intranasal sumatriptan for acute migraine
- Oral extended-release antihistamines
- Transdermal nicotine patch
Correct Answer: Intranasal sumatriptan for acute migraine
Q28. Which regulatory aspect is particularly evaluated for nasopulmonary products?
- Color of packaging only
- Aerosol performance, sterility, preservative safety, and device compatibility
- Tablet friability only
- Oral disintegration time
Correct Answer: Aerosol performance, sterility, preservative safety, and device compatibility
Q29. What is the effect of increased formulation viscosity on nasal drug delivery?
- Always decreases absorption regardless of other factors
- Increases residence time but may reduce diffusion and spray dispersion
- Has no impact on mucociliary clearance
- Causes immediate systemic toxicity
Correct Answer: Increases residence time but may reduce diffusion and spray dispersion
Q30. Which measurement provides information about airway resistance relevant to pulmonary delivery?
- Rhinomanometry and spirometry
- Mass spectrometry of drug
- pH meter reading of formulation
- Optical density of the aerosol
Correct Answer: Rhinomanometry and spirometry
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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