Background and Aims: In contemporary society, skincare and haircare have gained more attention, accelerated by the widespread adoption of online interactions and social media. Meanwhile, concerns such as skin dryness, wrinkle formation, and hair loss remain common issues, so more effective solutions are needed. We developed functional materials based on our proprietary poly (lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles (PLGA NP) technology to address these issues.

Methods and Results: Functional ingredients for improving skin barrier function, reducing wrinkles, and promoting hair growth were respectively encapsulated within PLGA NP. In vitro assays and monitor trials were conducted to verify their efficacy.

a) To enhance skin hydration, it is essential to improve the skin barrier function, which protects against external stimuli and retains moisture. We evaluated PLGA capsulex^® BasicCare, which encapsulates ingredients that support this function. Cellular assays demonstrated that BasicCare enhanced keratinocyte activation by 1.3-fold and upregulated the expression of genes associated with skin barrier function by 2.8-fold compared to the untreated group. Furthermore, skin hydration increased 2.7-fold, as confirmed by a monitor test.

b) For wrinkle reduction, stimulating the production of collagen and elastin—key proteins responsible for skin elasticity—is crucial, as fibroblasts play a role in their synthesis. We examined PLGA capsulex^® AgingCare, which encapsulates ingredients with wrinkle-improving effects. Cellular assays showed that fibroblast proliferation increased 1.4-fold in the AgingCare-treated group, leading to an at least 1.2-fold increase in collagen and elastin production. In addition, a five-week monitor trial demonstrated that the number of wrinkles decreased following continuous use of AgingCare.

c) Hair dermal papilla cells regulate hair follicle regeneration and the normal hair cycle transition, making their activation crucial for hair growth. We evaluated PLGA capsulex^® HairCare, which contains an ingredient with papilla cell-activating effects. Results showed a 1.4-fold increase in papilla cell proliferation in the HairCare-treated group. Gene expression levels involved in promoting hair growth were 2.8-fold higher than those in the untreated group.

Conclusions: The functional materials demonstrated significant effects in addressing specific skin and hair-related concerns. PLGA NP-treated groups exhibited significantly higher gene and protein expression levels compared to the untreated group and the functional component alone. These findings suggest that PLGA NP technology enhances cosmetic efficacy through its superior permeability and sustained release properties. Future challenges include more detailed efficacy verification and expanding applications to address additional beauty concerns. Overall, this research highlights the potential of nanotechnology in cosmetic science.

Background and Aims: Powder materials are extensively utilized not only as final products in foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals but also as raw materials and intermediates in the manufacturing processes of various industrial products including battery materials and magnetic materials. Powder consists of an aggregate of solid particles, and controlling the structure of powder, such as particle dispersion state and granulation structure, is essential for material development and manufacturing. While wet grinding can achieve sub-micron particle sizes, it requires additional drying processes and wastewater treatment, making dry processing more economical for industrial-scale production. Recent advances in high-performance classifiers have enabled dry grinding to produce finer particles, and dry composite processing has emerged as an energy-saving and environmentally friendly method. This study aims to introduce examples of particle structure control through dry operations, focusing on particle size reduction and composite processing using our equipment.

Methods and Results: Three main dry processing technologies were investigated: fine grinding, high-speed classification, and dry composite processing. For fine grinding, Pulvis^®, a dry-type agitating media mill with an integrated classifier, successfully produced sub-micron silica particles by combining grinding and classification operations. High-speed classifiers mounted on jet mills achieved average particle sizes of approximately 0.5 μm with maximum particle sizes around 2 μm for silica grinding. Opposed jet mill AFG demonstrated effective disintegration of agglomerated particles while minimizing contamination and controlling fine particle generation through gas pressure adjustment. For composite processing, Nobilta^® dry particle composer was applied to battery materials and pharmaceuticals. In battery applications, silicon particles were surface-modified with solid electrolyte coatings, creating microporous structures that reduced volume changes during charge-discharge cycles. In pharmaceutical applications, mannitol granules were composited with finely ground ibuprofen, and dissolution behavior was controlled through surface coating with hardened castor oil powder.

Conclusions (Outlooks): This study demonstrates that dry processing operations offer significant advantages over wet methods, including elimination of binder requirements, no need for drying processes, and overall energy savings in manufacturing processes. The combination of advanced grinding equipment with high-performance classifiers enables continuous and efficient production of sub-micron particles while preventing reagglomeration. Dry composite processing proves particularly valuable for battery materials requiring high charge-discharge rates and pharmaceutical applications demanding controlled dissolution behavior. The binder-free nature of dry processing makes it especially suitable for battery material development, where contamination control is critical. As global demand for automotive battery materials continues to grow and pharmaceutical industries face increasing numbers of poorly soluble drugs, dry processing technologies are expected to find expanded applications. Future development efforts will focus on further improving the performance of dry processing equipment to meet evolving industrial requirements for advanced functional materials.

Lignin, an abundant aromatic biopolymer, is primarily generated as a by-product from industrial processes such as kraft pulping and lignocellulosic bioethanol production. Traditionally, lignin has been utilized as a combustion fuel for process heat recovery; however, this approach contributes to CO₂ emissions and offers limited value in the context of a carbon-neutral economy. With growing societal and industrial interest in sustainable materials and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, lignin is increasingly recognized as a promising renewable feedstock for a variety of high-value applications, including energy storage, construction materials, cosmetics, and polymer composites.

To effectively utilize lignin in such applications, it is essential to precisely control its physicochemical characteristics, particularly particle size and morphology, which directly influence dispersion, reactivity, and processability. Due to lignin’s complex, variable structure and flammability, advanced powder processing technologies are required to ensure both functional performance and operational safety.

This paper introduces a comprehensive approach to lignin powder processing, focusing on two core technologies: fine grinding and dry granulation. For the fine grinding of lignin to particle sizes suitable for applications such as films or fillers in thermoplastic composites—typically requiring a d₉₇ below 10 μm—jet milling systems are employed to ensure high-precision production of ultrafine particles with a narrow particle size distribution. In particular, the fluidized bed opposed jet mill (AFG) developed by Hosokawa Alpine has been demonstrated as an effective technology for achieving the desired specifications.

For coarser applications (e.g., d₉₇ ≈ 20–30 μm), impact classifier mills such as the ACM Pulverizer^® offer an energy-efficient alternative. Experimental data presented in this study demonstrate how particle size and energy consumption are interrelated and highlight the importance of process selection based on target application.

Additionally, to address challenges related to handling, dusting, and bulk density, dry agglomeration using roll compactors has been implemented. This technique produces dust-free, free-flowing granules or briquettes that facilitate storage, transport, and downstream processing.

The integration of powder technologies enables the functional conversion of lignin into industrially viable forms, thereby supporting its transition from a waste stream to a valuable resource. This work emphasizes the role of particle engineering in realizing lignin’s potential as a key material in a circular, low-carbon economy.

Background and Aims: Powder technology plays a crucial role in modern industrial products across diverse fields including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food, ceramics, and electronic materials. In electrophotographic technology particularly, the charging characteristics of toner particles have a decisive impact on print quality, making accurate evaluation of particle charging properties essential. The conventional Faraday cage method, which has been widely used, has significant limitations as it only measures the average charge amount of the entire sample and cannot determine the charge distribution of individual particles or the correlation with particle size. This study aims to introduce the particle size and charge distribution analyzer “E-SPART Analyzer^®” (EST), which enables charge measurement at the individual particle level to address these challenges, and to demonstrate its measurement principles and applications.

Methods and Results: EST simultaneously measures particle size and charge amount of individual particles using acoustic and electric fields formed within a measurement cell. Particle size measurement utilizes phase lag caused by particle inertia in an acoustic vibration field, while charge measurement employs precise laser Doppler measurement of charged particle deflection phenomena in an electric field. In experiments with two-component toner concentration changes, a clear shift of the charge distribution toward zero was observed as toner concentration increased from 2% to 6%. This is attributed to the relative decrease in triboelectric charging opportunities for individual toner particles due to the increased number of toner particles per carrier. Scatter plot visualization enabled intuitive understanding of the correlation between charge amount and particle size, as well as distribution characteristics, demonstrating the acquisition of detailed charging property information that cannot be obtained through conventional bulk measurements.

Conclusions (Outlooks): EST represents the world’s only individual particle charge measurement technology, having been utilized for over 30 years since its commercial launch in 1987 with more than 100 units sold. Development of next-generation EST is currently underway, featuring significant miniaturization for portability, improved mechanical stability through semiconductor laser adoption, and enhanced measurement accuracy and operability through digitalization. As interest in the impact of particle charging characteristics on product quality continues to grow, the value of precise charging property evaluation technology is expected to increase further, and EST is anticipated to continue contributing to the advancement of powder technology.

Background: Drying is a fundamental process in powder technology, involving the removal of moisture from materials through the application of heat. Industrial dryers vary widely in design and operating principles, and no single dryer type is universally applicable to all materials or processes. The selection of an appropriate dryer depends heavily on the physical properties of the raw material and the desired drying performance.

Classification of Dryers: This study categorizes dryers into two main types based on heating method—direct heating and indirect heating—and two types based on operation mode—continuous and batch. Direct heating dryers utilize convective heat transfer by exposing materials to hot air, while indirect heating dryers rely on conductive heat transfer through heated surfaces such as walls or paddles. Each type has distinct advantages and limitations depending on the material’s moisture content, stickiness, and sensitivity to temperature.

Dryer Models Introduced: Four representative dryers manufactured by Hosokawa Micron Corporation are introduced, each designed to address specific material properties and processing requirements through distinct heating mechanisms and operational modes:

• Drymeister^® H-type (DMR-H): A continuous direct heating dryer with strong dispersion capability, suitable for low-moisture powders and sticky materials.

• Nauta Mixer^®: A batch-type indirect heating dryer with vacuum and freeze-drying capabilities, ideal for heat-sensitive and solvent-containing materials.

• TorusDisc (TD): A versatile indirect heating dryer with a large heat transfer area, capable of both continuous and batch operation, suitable for resin drying and thermal treatment.

• Solidaire (SJ): A continuous indirect heating dryer with high thermal efficiency and adjustable paddle configurations, effective for crystallization and drying of chemical and polymer materials.

Conclusion: By analyzing the structural features, drying mechanisms, and material compatibility of each dryer, this report provides practical guidance for selecting suitable drying equipment. The classification framework and case studies presented herein aim to support engineers and researchers in optimizing drying processes for diverse industrial applications. These insights facilitate cost-effective equipment selection and enhanced process efficiency in powder processing operations.