Pharmacist bacterium: scientists have created a microorganism that converts plastic into medicine

Breakthrough in biotechnology: An international group of researchers has announced the development of a bacterium capable of transforming plastic into a vital drug, paracetamol. This revolutionary discovery opens up new possibilities in solving the problem of plastic pollution, as well as in the environmentally friendly production of medicines.

If you didn't know until now, paracetamol is made from petroleum, which makes its production not very environmentally friendly. However, there is a way to fix it! The created microorganism, which is a genetically modified bacterium, was obtained as a result of painstaking work to change the metabolic pathways of bacterial cells. Scientists have inserted into the bacterial genome the genes responsible for the breakdown of plastic, and then the genes encoding the enzymes necessary for the transformation of plastic degradation products into paracetamol molecules. As a result, the bacterium is able not only to destroy plastic, but also to synthesize a drug from its components.

The preliminary experimental results are impressive: the bacterium has demonstrated high efficiency in processing various types of plastic, including polyethylene terephthalate (PET), the material from which most plastic bottles are made. Moreover, it was found that the resulting paracetamol meets the quality standards required for pharmaceutical preparations. This means that the technology can potentially be used for the industrial production of paracetamol, and the paracetamol produced in this way will be no different from the one we are using with you now. 

The advantages of the new method of paracetamol production are obvious. Firstly, it is an environmentally friendly process that promotes the recycling of plastic waste, reducing the burden on the environment. Secondly, the technology makes it possible to obtain medicine from a renewable source – plastic, which makes production more sustainable and economically feasible. Thirdly, the new method can reduce dependence on fossil raw materials used in the traditional production of paracetamol.

However, researchers face new challenges. First, it is necessary to optimize the plastic recycling process, increase the efficiency of paracetamol synthesis and ensure the safety of using this method for the manufacture of medicines. In addition, large-scale studies will be required to assess the environmental impact of the new technology and expand production.

Nevertheless, the creation of a bacterium capable of converting plastic into paracetamol is an important step towards solving global environmental problems and developing sustainable production of medicines. Perhaps this is just the beginning of a new “pharmaceutical factory” being built on bacteria that will produce medicines from waste.