Excipients and their Role in Drug Formulation: Interactive Learning Quizzes

Question 1

Which characteristic is **least** desirable for a suspending agent in a pharmaceutical formulation?

Accepted Answer

Adds color or flavor to the formulation

Answer

Prevents particles from settling

Answer

Increases the formulation's viscosity

Answer

Maintains stability in different environments

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT a primary function of excipients in drug formulations?

Accepted Answer

Minimizing production expenses as the primary goal

Answer

Enhancing drug solubility and bioavailability

Answer

Preserving active ingredients from degradation

Answer

Concealing unpleasant tastes or odors of certain APIs

Question 3

Which regulatory body establishes standards and guidelines for excipients in pharmaceutical products?

Accepted Answer

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Answer

European Medicines Agency (EMA)

Answer

Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)

Answer

World Health Organization (WHO)

Question 4

To improve the dissolution rate of a poorly soluble drug in a new oral tablet formulation, which excipient type should be considered?

Accepted Answer

Surfactants

Answer

Disintegrants

Answer

Binders

Question 5

Identify the primary function of starch in tablet formulations.

Accepted Answer

Filler and binder

Answer

Disintegrant

Answer

Lubricant

Answer

Surfactant

Question 6

Which characteristic is undesirable in an ideal excipient?

Accepted Answer

Toxicity

Answer

Biocompatibility

Answer

Inertness

Answer

Stability

Question 7

What is the primary purpose of using a glidant in a powder formulation?

Accepted Answer

Enhance flowability

Answer

Increase cohesiveness

Answer

Improve solubility

Answer

Mask unpleasant taste

Question 8

Which type of excipient is used to control drug release in controlled-release formulations?

Accepted Answer

Ethylcellulose

Answer

Starch

Answer

Lactose

Answer

Magnesium stearate

Question 9

Which of the choices below is NOT a primary function of excipients in drug product development?

Accepted Answer

Improving patient compliance

Answer

Enhancing drug stability

Answer

Modifying drug release

Answer

Increasing bioavailability

Question 10

Which class of excipient is commonly employed to modify drug solubility and dissolution rate?

Accepted Answer

Surfactants

Answer

Fillers

Answer

Binders

Answer

Lubricants

Question 11

What is the primary function of binders in solid dosage forms?

Accepted Answer

Imparting cohesion to the formulation

Answer

Preventing drug decomposition

Answer

Improving drug absorption

Answer

Reducing tablet friability

Question 12

What is the main function of disintegrants in tablet formulations?

Accepted Answer

Promoting drug release from tablets

Answer

Reducing tablet hardness

Answer

Improving drug stability

Answer

Preventing tablet capping

Question 13

Which of the following is a commonly used natural excipient employed as a suspending agent?

Accepted Answer

Gum arabic

Answer

Polyethylene glycol

Answer

Sodium lauryl sulfate

Answer

Magnesium stearate

Question 14

Which type of excipient can be utilised to mask the bitter taste of certain drugs?

Accepted Answer

Sweeteners

Answer

Flavouring agents

Answer

Colouring agents

Answer

Preservatives

Question 15

Which of the following is not a primary function of excipients in pharmaceutical formulations?

Accepted Answer

Reduce manufacturing costs

Answer

Enhance drug absorption

Answer

Maintain drug stability

Answer

Improve drug delivery to target sites

Question 16

What is the primary purpose of using diluents in solid dosage forms?

Accepted Answer

To facilitate powder flow and compressibility

Answer

To increase drug solubility

Answer

To enhance drug stability

Answer

To reduce the toxicity of the active ingredient

Question 17

Which of the following excipient classes is most commonly used to modify drug release rates in extended-release formulations?

Accepted Answer

Matrix formers

Answer

Binders

Answer

Disintegrants

Answer

Lubricants

Question 18

What is the key role of surfactants in pharmaceutical formulations?

Accepted Answer

To enhance drug solubility

Answer

To reduce drug degradation

Answer

To improve drug absorption

Answer

To increase drug stability

Question 19

What is the primary mechanism by which disintegrants promote tablet disintegration?

Accepted Answer

Swelling and expansion

Answer

Erosion and dissolution

Answer

Adsorption and desorption

Answer

Complexation and chelation

Question 20

Which of the following excipient classes is primarily used to enhance the flowability of powders in capsule formulations?

Accepted Answer

Glidants

Answer

Binders

Answer

Lubricants

Answer

Disintegrants

Question 21

In the context of excipients, what does the term "excipient compatibility" typically refer to?

Accepted Answer

The compatibility of excipients with the drug substance

Answer

The ability of excipients to mix well with each other

Answer

The compatibility of excipients with manufacturing equipment

Answer

The compatibility of excipients with packaging materials

Question 22

Which excipient plays a primary role in increasing the dissolution rate of a drug with poor solubility?

Accepted Answer

Surfactant

Answer

Binder

Answer

Disintegrant

Answer

Lubricant

Question 23

In a pharmaceutical formulation designed for a highly concentrated drug, which type of excipient would be most suitable?

Accepted Answer

Diluent

Answer

Flavoring agent

Answer

Colorant

Answer

Preservative

Question 24

What is the primary function of a disintegrant in a tablet formulation?

Accepted Answer

To promote rapid tablet disintegration into fine particles, enhancing drug dissolution.

Answer

To prevent tablet adhesion during compression.

Answer

To improve the powder mixture's flowability.

Question 25

Which excipient is commonly employed to enhance the stability of a drug product by preventing oxidative degradation?

Accepted Answer

Antioxidant

Answer

Sweetener

Answer

Thickener

Answer

Buffer

Question 26

A pharmaceutical scientist aims to develop a tablet formulation for a drug with a short stability period. Which excipient would be most appropriate for extending the shelf-life of the product?

Accepted Answer

Stabilizer

Answer

Colorant

Answer

Flavoring agent

Answer

Lubricant

Question 27

What is the key distinction between a diluent and a filler in a tablet formulation?

Accepted Answer

Diluent primarily adds bulk to the formulation, while filler actively contributes to the tablet's physical properties such as hardness and disintegration.

Answer

Diluents are used in liquid formulations, while fillers are used in solid formulations.

Question 28

Why is it crucial to consider the compatibility of excipients with the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API)?

Accepted Answer

Incompatible excipients can lead to API degradation, undesirable chemical reactions, or altered drug release profiles.

Answer

Compatibility is only essential for aesthetic considerations.

Question 29

In order to improve the flowability of a powder mixture during tablet compression, which excipient would be most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Glidant

Answer

Binder

Answer

Disintegrant

Answer

Colorant

Question 30

Which statement accurately describes the role of a lubricant in tablet manufacturing?

Accepted Answer

Lubricants reduce friction during compression, preventing tablet sticking and facilitating smooth ejection from the die.

Answer

Lubricants enhance the drug's dissolution rate.

Question 31

In an oral suspension formulation, which excipient would be suitable for maintaining uniform dispersion of drug particles in the liquid medium?

Accepted Answer

Suspending agent

Answer

Preservative

Answer

Flavoring agent

Answer

Sweetener