Scientists at the University of Edinburgh have discovered an innovative way to turn plastic waste into medicine that can help people with Parkinson’s disease.
In a new study, researchers engineered bacteria to convert plastic bottles made from PET, the common plastic used in food and drink packaging into L-DOPA, one of the most widely used medications for treating Parkinson’s.
The process begins by breaking the plastic down into its chemical components, which the specially designed bacteria then transform into the drug through a series of biological reactions.
Researchers say the breakthrough could open the door to a more sustainable way of producing important medicines while also tackling the global plastic waste problem.
The team believes this is just the beginning, and that similar technology could one day transform many kinds of waste into useful materials that improve human health and reduce pollution at the same time.