Pharmaceutics Xenobiotics Across Bio Membrane Practice Test 2026 - Free Pharmaceutics Practice Questions and Study Guide

Inflammation weakens the barrier between neighboring cells by loosening tight junctions, which are the gates of the paracellular route. When these junctions become more permeable, the spaces between cells widen and the paracellular pathway allows more molecules to pass. A drug that relies on paracellular transport will therefore cross more easily because the barrier it must traverse is less restrictive.

Think of it as the "between cells" route becoming more open during inflammation, rather than the cell membranes themselves becoming more permeable or active transport processes stepping up. If membranes were stiffer, or if paracellular routes were actually reduced, the drug wouldn’t gain easier access. Increased active transport would affect transcellular movement, not the paracellular path.