Abstract: Particle design, based on the concept of "quality by design", combines the elements of microbiology, formulation science, heat and mass transfer, solid state physics, powder science, and nanotechnology. It is widely used to develop particles with excellent functional properties. Without affecting the active ingredients, the modification technology of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) powder based on particle design theory, could improve the flowability, tabletability, disintegration and dissolution behavior, hygroscopicity, wettability, and other functional properties at the physical structure level. This greatly promotes the development of solid preparations of TCM. The present review aims to summarize and discuss the research progress of powder modification of TCM from the perspective of the theory of particle design, powder modification technology, equipment used for powder modification, application in TCM and modification mechanism mainly based on researches published in recent ten years. This review could provide ideas and theory basis for the development of particle design.