Question

Which type of powders, spherical or needle, are most common in the pharmaceutical industry?

1) Spherical powders
2) Needle powders
3) Both spherical and needle powders
4) None of the above

Answer 1

Spherical powders are most common in the pharmaceutical industry because of better flow properties and ease in manufacturing processes. While needle powders are used in some specific applications, they can cause challenges due to their poor flow and potential for segregation. (option 1)

Step-by-step explanation:

In the pharmaceutical industry, spherical powders are generally more common than needle powders. Spherical powders offer several advantages, including better flow properties, higher bulk density, and ease of formulation, which are conducive to the manufacturing of solid dosage forms like tablets and capsules.

Needles or acicular powders can pose challenges because of their poor flow properties and the potential to cause segregation during processing, which can affect the uniformity and quality of the final pharmaceutical product.

However, the choice between spherical and needle powders is not just about their physical shape, but also their chemical properties, stability, and how they interact with other ingredients in the formulation. In specific applications, needle powders might be used depending on the desired effect or formulation requirements. Thus, while spherical powders may be more common, there are scenarios where needle powders are used based on the pharmacological and formulation needs.

Hence, the answer is option 1