🧪 Biomanufacturing Drugs from Plastic Waste.🚀 A Groundbreaking Step Toward Sustainable Chemistry

🧬 What Happened?

Scientists from the University of Edinburgh developed a bioengineered strain of E. coli bacteria capable of transforming PET plastic waste like used water bottles into the widely used painkiller paracetamol (also known as acetaminophen).

This was achieved through synthetic biology and metabolic engineering, marking a powerful leap forward in both plastic recycling and pharmaceutical production.

How Does It Work?

The process involves several key steps:

1. Breaking Down PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate):

PET, commonly found in plastic bottles, is made of terephthalic acid (TPA) and ethylene glycol.

Researchers used enzymes to break down PET waste into its monomers, primarily terephthalic acid (TPA).

These monomers serve as carbon feedstocks for bacterial growth.

2. Genetically Modified E. coli:

The team genetically engineered E. coli bacteria to process TPA and convert it into 4-aminophenol, a key intermediate in paracetamol production.

They introduced synthetic metabolic pathways into the bacteria, enabling them to carry out multi-step reactions inside the cell.

This included converting TPA → intermediate compounds → 4-aminophenol → acetaminophen.

3. One Pot Biomanufacturing:

Within 24 hours, the bacteria were able to convert plastic waste into paracetamol with about 90% efficiency under lab conditions.

 

Why Is This Important?

♻️ Dual Impact:

1. Plastic Pollution Reduction:

PET plastic is notoriously non-biodegradable and a major environmental threat.

This approach offers a circular economy solution: turning plastic trash into something valuable.

2. Green Pharmaceutical Manufacturing:

Traditional synthesis of paracetamol involves petrochemical feedstocks, harsh solvents, and high energy usage.

This bio-process is cleaner, cheaper, and eco-friendly, needing less energy and producing fewer by-products.

💊 Potential Beyond Paracetamol:

The technique could be adapted to manufacture other pharmaceuticals, such as:

Antipyretics

Antibiotics

Antidepressants