University of Memphis Launches P3ARL Technologies to Advance Ultrasonic Powder Dispersion Technology
P3ARL Technologies to advance patented ultrasonic aerosol system for drug delivery and industrial innovation; brings to market with applications in healthcare and beyond.
The University of Memphis has announced the founding of P3ARL Technologies, Inc., a new startup company formed with investment and support of the University of Memphis Research Foundation (UMRF). The company will commercialize patented ultrasonic powder dispersion technology developed by a team of inventors led by Dr. Ranganathan Gopalakrishnan, associate professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
Traditional methods for dispersing powders into aerosols rely on moving parts such as blades or impellers to mechanically separate particles from a surface. These approaches are prone to clogging and rapid efficiency loss, making them unsuitable for generating aerosols at steady concentrations for extended periods. By contrast, the UofM team has created a novel system that uses no moving parts. Instead, ultrasonic transducers generate standing sound waves (with frequencies beyond the human hearing range) that levitate and disperse particles into stable aerosols. This breakthrough makes it possible to sustain high particle concentrations—up to 100 million particles per cubic centimeter—for many hours at a time, overcoming a major challenge in aerosol science and powder technology.
The unique strength of this technology lies in its ability to disperse extremely fine particles (0.1–10 microns), which are notoriously difficult to keep airborne due to interparticle adhesion forces. This capability enables new applications across multiple industries, with the most immediate opportunity in pulmonary drug delivery.
P3ARL Technologies will first focus on developing a dry powder aerosol delivery platform for the treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF), a genetic disease that affects nearly 40,000 people in the United States and more than 100,000 worldwide. CF is marked by the buildup of thick mucus in the lungs, which traps microbes and leads to frequent and severe infections. Treatment often requires large doses of antibiotics—200 to 400 mg—but current inhalation devices cannot reliably deliver such quantities in a single dose. As a result, patients endure multi-step treatment regimens that increase costs, prolong recovery times, and reduce quality of life.
Looking ahead, P3ARL Technologies sees opportunities to leverage its ultrasonic dispersion system in areas such as:
- Continuous manufacturing of pharmaceutical powders
- Aerosol feedstock for coatings processes (plasma spray, thermal spray, cold spray)
- Standardized aerosols for calibration of scientific instruments
- Surface cleaning applications, such as maintaining solar panels
- Enhanced consumer products, including high-efficiency vacuum cleaners
Each application will require optimization for powders with unique chemical, electrostatic, and agglomeration properties, making ongoing research and customer discovery key to future development.
“This startup represents exactly what we want to see from university research—cutting-edge science translated into solutions with real-world impact,” said Dr. Okenwa Okoli, dean of the Herff College of Engineering at the University of Memphis. “P3ARL is starting with a critical healthcare challenge, but the potential applications extend far beyond medicine into manufacturing, clean energy, and beyond.”
With a growing market for multidose dry powder inhalers projected to reach more than $20 billion by 2032, P3ARL Technologies is well positioned to deliver innovation at the intersection of science, medicine, and industry. Starting with an urgent healthcare challenge and building outward, the company exemplifies the University of Memphis’s commitment to transformative research, entrepreneurship, and impact.
For more information on this company, reach out to Prof. Gopalakrishnan at rgplkrsh@memphis.edu. He and his team welcome you to visit the lab in person to see live demonstrations or conference calls can be arranged to discuss scientific interests and business opportunities.