SMRTR Science & EngineeringMar 16, 2026Interesting Engineering

Scientists make engineered bacteria convert plastic waste into Parkinson’s drug

SMRTR summary

University of Edinburgh researchers successfully engineered E. coli bacteria to convert common plastic waste into L-DOPA, the primary medication for treating Parkinson's disease. This breakthrough transforms polyethylene terephthalate plastic into terephthalic acid, which the bacteria then process into the life-saving drug, creating a sustainable alternative to fossil fuel-based pharmaceutical manufacturing while addressing plastic pollution.

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