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Microbial Factories for Sustainable Bioplastic Precursors
Summary
This review highlighted the potential of microorganisms including E. coli, Pseudomonas spp., and cyanobacteria for synthesizing polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), polylactic acid (PLA) precursors, and other biopolymer intermediates as sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics. The review discussed advances in synthetic biology, systems biology, and fermentation technology for improving microbial bioplastic production, while identifying remaining challenges in feedstock availability, scale-up efficiency, and downstream processing that hinder commercial competitiveness.
The growing environmental burden of petroleum-based plastics has intensified interest in bioplastics as sustainable alternatives. Among various strategies, microbial factories offer a promising route for the production of bioplastic precursors, leveraging renewable feedstocks and advanced metabolic engineering. This review highlights the potential of microorganisms such as Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas spp., and cyanobacteria in synthesizing polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), polylactic acid (PLA) precursors, and other biopolymer intermediates. Advances in synthetic biology, systems biology, and fermentation technology have enabled the optimization of microbial metabolism for improved yield, productivity, and cost-effectiveness. Challenges remain, however, including feedstock availability, scale-up efficiency, metabolic burden, and downstream processing costs, which hinder commercial competitiveness with petrochemical plastics. Emerging strategies such as adaptive laboratory evolution, CRISPR-based genome editing, and valorization of agro-industrial residues are discussed as solutions to these limitations. The review underscores the importance of integrating biotechnology, process engineering, and circular economy principles to advance microbial bioplastic production toward industrial-scale sustainability. Ultimately, microbial factories represent a pivotal platform for reducing reliance on fossil resources and mitigating plastic pollution. Keywords: Bioplastics, Microbial Metabolism, Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), Fermentation and Synthetic Biology.