3D-printed flexible-dose HIV medicine for children

Dose Flexible Combination 3D-Printed Delivery Systems for Antiviral Therapy in Children

NIH-funded research Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr · NIH-11365779

Making 3D-printed, dose-adjustable HIV combination medicines so children can get the right dose more easily.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionTexas A&m University Health Science Ctr NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (College Station, United States)
Project IDNIH-11365779 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This project uses 3D printing to create solid combination tablets of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) and lamivudine (3TC) with adjustable doses for children. Researchers will develop printable formulations that pharmacists can prepare in a hospital setting and will test them for dose accuracy, stability, sterility, and how the drugs are absorbed. The team will compare printed products to current compounded pediatric preparations to ensure safety and consistency. Work is planned for deployment at Driscoll Children’s Hospital to create practical workflows for clinical use.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Children living with HIV who need TDF-3TC combination therapy—particularly those in the pediatric age range for these drugs (about 2–12 years) and their caregivers—are the ideal candidates.

Not a fit: Adults, children who require different antiretroviral regimens, or patients with allergies to the study drugs would likely not benefit from these specific formulations.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, children with HIV could have easier-to-dose, more consistent combination pills that improve adherence and treatment outcomes.

How similar studies have performed: 3D printing has been used to make individualized drug forms (including an FDA-approved 3D-printed epilepsy medicine), but printed dose-tailored TDF-3TC pediatric combinations are a newer and largely untested application.

Where this research is happening

College Station, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.