The Next Acetaminophen Tablet You Take Could Be Made From PET

Researchers from The University of Edinburgh has succeeded in transforming certain plastic waste into acetaminophen by using the natural properties of the common bacteria They showed cold (E. coli). This breakthrough represents an important step with the potential to conduct more sustainable methods of medicine Production and, at the same time, contribute to the reduction of plastic pollution worldwide.

The study, led by Stephen Wallace, revealed that E. coli Cells contain phosphate, an organic compound capable of catalyzing a chemical reaction known as Losten rearrangement. In general terms, this process implies the rearrangement of the atoms of an ester hydroxamate molecule to form a new structure called isocyanate, a chemical intermediary which, when reacted with water, produces primary amines. These substances are essential in many biological processes and in the synthesis of drugs.

Using synthetic biology, scientists have manipulated bacteria to redirect their internal chemistry and transform a molecule derived from TEP called Téréphtalic acid into an active ingredient of acetaminophen. They used a fermentation process, similar to that used in brewing beer, to accelerate the conversion of industrial waste for pets into medication, obtaining results in less than 24 hours. According to the results, approximately 90% of the final product corresponded to acetaminophen.

Above all, this conversion was carried out at room temperature and with practically no carbon emissions, which suggests that the drug can be produced in a more environmentally friendly manner.

Wallace noted that what was most surprising in the process is that Losten rearrangement occurred naturally within living bacteria, without the need for laboratory catalysts. In other words, they took advantage of the capacities of the own microbial cells to trigger the desired reaction.

“What is funny is that we did not have to teach bacteria how to make the reaction: the trick was to realize that they already had the tools, and we just had to guide them,” said the researcher in reports reported by the country. “We used synthetic biology to build new metabolic pathways within bacteria that guide their chemistry towards the production of the compound we wanted. In this case, a drug. “

Production of sustainable drugs

The work, published in the journal Naturecould be the first documented case of acetaminophen production from plastic waste using E. coli. However, the authors point out that other studies will be necessary to achieve production on an industrial scale. In addition, they warn that the safety and effectiveness of the resulting medication in humans have not yet been assessed, so that future research will be necessary.

Despite these limits, scientists emphasize that their results open up new possibilities to resolve the problem of plastic waste and reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with the manufacture of drugs.

Currently, the production of drugs such as acetaminophen consumes thousands of tons of fossil fuels, in particular oil, which significantly contributes to climate change. In turn, PET generates more than 350 million tonnes of waste per year, causing serious damage to the environment. Although this material is recyclable, current methods often result in products that perpetuate global plastic pollution.

“This work shows that PET plastic is not only a waste or a material intended to become more plastic: microorganisms can transform it into new precious products, including those with therapeutic potential,” concluded Wallace.

This story originally appeared on Cable in Spanish and was translated from Spanish.