03/29/2026
In a scientific first, researchers have turned plastic waste into a mainstay treatment for Parkinson’s disease. In a proof-of-concept study, researchers used engineered bacteria to convert polyethylene terephthalate (PET) — a widely used plastic found in bottles and food packaging — into levodopa (L-DOPA).
Investigators engineered Escherichia coli bacteria to convert a chemical building block of PET into L-DOPA through a series of biological reactions, with an 84% conversion and a yield of 5.0 g/L — equivalent to several early-stage clinical doses of the drug.
Although still in the early stages, the process could hold promise for drug development and reframes plastic pollution as a potential pharmaceutical feedstock, said study investigator Stephen Wallace, PhD, professor of chemical biotechnology at the University of Edinburgh in Edinburgh, Scotland. Tap the link to read more. https://mdsc.pe/3PULegv
