The following steps may be done during manufacturing in order to prevent delayed dissolution for immediate release products: I. Adjust process conditions to facilitate reduction in processing temperatures. II. Use high solids system to enable use of low processing temperature. III. Improve drying (reduce spray rate or increase temperatures) to offset overwetting. IV. Increase pan speed to minimize dwell time in spray zone

• A. All statements are correct
• B. Only ONE statement is correct
• C. Two statements are correct
• D. Three statements are correct

Answer: (C)

To prevent delayed dissolution in immediate-release products, the most direct issue to control is how the coating dries and how much wetness remains on the particles. Overwetting and thick, uneven films slow down how fast the product dissolves, so steps that speed up drying and reduce exposure to liquid are the most effective.

Reducing the spray rate lowers the amount of liquid being deposited per pass, while increasing the drying temperature speeds up solvent evaporation. Both moves help prevent overwetting and promote a thinner, more uniform coating that dissolves quickly.

Increasing the pan speed shortens the time each particle spends in the spray zone, which also reduces the chance of forming a slow-dissolving coating due to extended exposure to spray droplets.

The other two options are less directly tied to dissolution performance. Lowering processing temperatures or using a high solids system to enable lower temperatures may affect processing efficiency or formulation behavior, but they don’t directly address moisture control and film formation in the way that drying rate and dwell time do.