Fine particle coating has been conducted by using a novel rotating fluidized bed coater. The coater consists of a plenum chamber and a horizontal porous cylindrical air distributor, which rotates around its axis of symmetry inside the plenum chamber. Cohesive fine cornstarch (mass median diameter of 15 mum), a Geldart Group C powder, was used as core particle and an aqueous solution of hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC-L) was sprayed onto the cornstarch to generate a film coating. Fine particle coating was conducted under various coating levels (wt.% HPC-L) and the particle size distribution of the coated particles, release rate of an aqueous pigment (food blue No. 1), which had been pre-coated onto the initial cornstarch, and the degree of agglomeration were investigated. The relationship between the coating level and the physical properties of the coated particles was analyzed. The results indicated that coating of cohesive fine cornstarch with HPC-L could be achieved, producing a favorable prolonged release property with almost maintaining the individual single particle. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.