Developed by a team at the University of Edinburgh, the approach harnesses the power of bacteria to transform waste plastic into a frontline Parkinson’s medication called L-DOPA. It is said to be the first time a natural biological process has been used to turn plastic waste into a therapeutic for a neurological disease. The process involves using specially-engineered E. coli bacteria to turn a type of plastic used widely in food and drink packaging – polyethylene terephthalate, or PET – into L-DOPA. “Plastic waste is often seen as an environmental problem, but it also represents a vast, untapped source of carbon. “Turning plastic bottles into a Parkinson’s drug isn’t just a creative recycling idea, it’s a way of redesigning processes that work with nature to deliver real-world benefits.

Source: The Times March 16, 2026 10:09 UTC