Carbohydrate aqueous solutions of trehalose, glucose, and fructose were sprayed by using a pneumatic atomizer, and their infrared extinction spectra were recorded for the region from 700 to 5000 cm(-1). Analysis based on Mie scattering theory indicated that sprayed droplets transformed into nonvolatile amorphous nanoparticles by solvent evaporation. Average diameters of these particles were estimated to be about 100 nm, which was further confirmed by differential mobility analysis. The results demonstrate that nanoparticles can be created by spray drying of aqueous solutions, and that the sizes, phases, and structures of these particles can be well characterized by infrared extinction spectroscopy.