Question

A highly potent low-dose drug requires which mixing equipment for content uniformity?

• A. Double cone blender
• B. Sigma mixer
• C. Turbine mixer
• D. Fluidized bed dryer

Hint:

For low-dose potent drugs, uniform dry powder blending is very important; double cone blender is commonly used for this purpose.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
For "potent" drugs (e.g., dose < 1 mg), achieving "content uniformity" is the biggest challenge. The drug must be distributed evenly throughout a large mass of excipients.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
1. Tumbling Mixers: Equipment like the double cone blender or V-blender works by tumbling the powder mass. This provides gentle yet thorough macroscopic mixing.
2. Content Uniformity: Double cone blenders are specifically designed to eliminate "dead spots" where powder might not mix. The shape promotes a rolling and folding action that is highly effective for free-flowing powders.
3. Sigma Mixer: This is a high-consistency mixer used for doughs and pastes, not suitable for dry powder uniformity of low-dose drugs.
Step 3: Final Answer:
For dry powder blending where precision is key, the double cone blender is the preferred equipment to ensure every tablet or capsule contains exactly the same amount of a low-dose drug.