π§ͺ Biomanufacturing Drugs from Plastic Waste.π A Groundbreaking Step Toward Sustainable Chemistry
𧬠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 metaboli...
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