A groundbreaking study has demonstrated that waste plastic bottles can be converted into a key drug used to treat Parkinson’s disease, marking a major advance in sustainable pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have developed a pioneering method that uses engineered bacteria to transform post-consumer plastic into L-DOPA, a frontline medication for the neurological disorder. The innovation represents the first time a biological process has been engineered to convert plastic waste into a therapeutic treatment for a neurological condition, the scientists say.

The team modified E. coli bacteria to process polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a common plastic derived from oil and gas, and widely used in food and drink packaging. PET waste is first broken down into its chemical component, terephthalic acid, molecules of which are then converted into L-DOPA through a series of biological reactions using the engineered bacteria.

Researchers say the technique offers a more sustainable alternative to traditional pharmaceutical manufacturing, which typically relies on finite fossil fuel resources. Every year, approximately 50 million tonnes of PET waste are produced – the material is notoriously difficult to recycle efficiently, with existing methods still contributing to global plastic pollution.

The new approach, on the other hand, enables the recovery and reuse of carbon embedded in plastic waste that would otherwise end up in landfill, incinerators, or the environment. The breakthrough could help lay the foundation for a new bio-upcycling industry capable of producing not only medicines, but also flavourings, fragrances, cosmetics, and industrial chemicals. The researchers are now working to scale up the process for industrial use with future efforts to focus on improving efficiency and assessing the environmental and economic viability of the technology.

The research was conducted at the Carbon-Loop Sustainable Biomanufacturing Hub (C-Loop), supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). The hub aims to transform manufacturing by converting industrial waste into valuable, sustainable materials.

"This research shows the huge potential of engineering biology to tackle some of society’s most pressing challenges. By converting discarded plastic into a treatment for Parkinson’s disease, the University of Edinburgh team has demonstrated how carbon that would otherwise be lost to landfill or pollution can be turned into high value products that improve lives,” says Professor Charlotte Deane, EPSRC Executive Chair, UKRI.

“It’s a great example of how EPSRC’s investment in C-Loop is enabling innovative, sustainable manufacturing approaches that benefit both people and the planet," she adds.

The research study, published in Nature Sustainability, was funded by UKRI and the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC), with support from test lab and innovation centre, Impact Solutions as well as Edinburgh Innovations, the University’s commercialisation service.

"This feels like just the beginning. If we can create medicines for neurological disease from a waste plastic bottle, it’s exciting to imagine what else this technology could achieve,” says Professor Stephen Wallace from the University's School of Biological Sciences, who led the study.

“Plastic waste is often seen as an environmental problem, but it also represents a vast, untapped source of carbon. By engineering biology to transform plastic into an essential medicine, we show how waste materials can be reimagined as valuable resources that support human health."

Image: Professor Stephen Wallace harvesting engineered bacteria for analysis (Credit: Edinburgh Innovations)

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