Scientists Convert PET Plastic Waste into Parkinson's Medication

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have developed a biological process to turn PET plastic bottles into L-DOPA, a primary drug used to treat Parkinson's disease. By using engineered E. coli bacteria, the team can recover carbon from plastic waste and convert it into high-value therapeutic compounds. This breakthrough reduces the pharmaceutical industry's reliance on fossil fuel based raw materials. The process could eventually be scaled to produce other industrial chemicals, fragrances, and cosmetics from plastic waste, creating a new bio-upcycling economy.