Edinburgh Converts Plastic Waste to Parkinson's Drug

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh, led by Professor Stephen Wallace, have developed a pioneering method to transform waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic into L-DOPA, a frontline medication for Parkinson's disease. This process involves breaking down PET waste into terephthalic acid, which is then converted into L-DOPA by specially engineered Escherichia coli bacteria. This marks the first time a natural biological process has been used to turn plastic waste into a therapeutic for a neurological disease. The method is more sustainable than traditional pharmaceutical production, which relies on fossil fuels, and could pave the way for a new 'bio-upcycling industry' producing pharmaceuticals, flavorings, fragrances, cosmetics, and industrial chemicals. The research was funded by United Kingdom===UK Research and Innovation and the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre, with support from University of Edinburgh===Edinburgh Innovations and Impact Solutions. The findings were published in Nature Sustainability, and the team plans to advance the technology for industrial application.