Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have developed a pioneering method that converts plastic waste into a key treatment for Parkinson’s disease, offering a more sustainable approach to pharmaceutical production.
The team engineered Escherichia coli bacteria to transform waste Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) – commonly used in drinks bottles and food packaging – into L‑DOPA, a frontline medication for the neurological condition.
The process begins by breaking PET plastic into terephthalic acid, a chemical building block. Engineered bacteria then convert this compound into L-DOPA through a series of biological reactions.
Researchers say the technique could significantly reduce reliance on fossil-fuel-based chemical processes traditionally used to manufacture pharmaceuticals.
It also offers a way to repurpose plastic waste that would otherwise end up in landfill, incineration or environmental pollution.
Around 50 million tonnes of PET plastic are produced each year globally, highlighting the scale of the recycling challenge.
Scientists believe biological upcycling could transform this waste into high-value products including medicines, fragrances and industrial chemicals.
The research was supported by UK Research and Innovation and the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre, and conducted within the Carbon-Loop Sustainable Biomanufacturing Hub.
Stephen Wallace, who led the study, said: “Plastic waste is often seen as an environmental problem, but it also represents a vast, untapped source of carbon. By engineering biology to transform plastic into an essential medicine, we show how waste materials can be reimagined as valuable resources that support human health.”
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