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From Pollutant to Pill: Can Microplastics in Food Be Reclaimed for Paracetamol Production
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This mini-review explored whether microplastics found in food could theoretically serve as a sustainable feedstock for paracetamol production using synthetic biology approaches. While technically intriguing as a way to valorize plastic waste, the authors noted substantial technological and safety barriers remain before such conversion would be feasible.
The presence of microplastics in food has emerged as a major public health issue. At the same time, waste plastic may now be turned into valuable medications like paracetamol thanks to synthetic biology. With an emphasis on technological viability, existing obstacles, and wider ramifications for pharmaceutical innovation and environmental health, this mini-review investigates whether foodborne microplastics may be a sustainable feedstock for pharmaceutical manufacturing.
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Toward Microbial Recycling and Upcycling of Plastics: Prospects and Challenges
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This review examines the prospects and challenges of using microorganisms to recycle and upcycle plastic waste, assessing the current state of microbial degradation research across major polymer types. The authors identify metabolic engineering and synthetic biology as key tools needed to make biological plastic recycling economically viable at scale.
Closing the loop on plastics: Biological and hybrid routes for converting plastic waste to polyhydroxyalkanoates.
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Scientists are exploring how to turn plastic waste into biodegradable plastic using bacteria, essentially recycling trash into a safer material that breaks down naturally instead of piling up in landfills or oceans. This review pulls together existing research on the process, highlighting that while promising, the technology still faces hurdles like breaking down plastic efficiently and scaling it up affordably. If perfected, this approach could reduce the amount of plastic waste that degrades into microplastics, which have been found in human blood, organs, and even breast milk, raising ongoing health concerns.
Microplastic biodegradation and environmental safety: From microbial mechanisms to engineered systems and circular bio-based implementation.
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This research review summarizes what scientists know about using bacteria and enzymes to break down microplastics—tiny plastic particles smaller than 5mm that contaminate our water, soil, and air. While these biological approaches show promise for removing dangerous plastic pollution from the environment, the methods don't always work completely and may create new harmful byproducts. The findings matter because microplastics can enter our food chain and bodies, so we need safe and effective ways to remove them without creating new health risks.
Plastic waste as a novel substrate for industrial biotechnology
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This paper reviewed the potential of plastic waste as a novel substrate for industrial biotechnology, arguing that plastic polymers could serve as feedstocks for microbial processes that generate value-added chemicals or fuels.
Biocatalytic strategies for the degradation of emerging micropollutants: From nanoplastics to pharmaceuticals
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Researchers demonstrated that specific bacteria can break down both nanoplastics and common pharmaceuticals such as paracetamol and ibuprofen, which frequently contaminate waterways. Encasing these bacteria in alginate beads improved their stability and reusability, pointing toward practical bioremediation tools for tackling multiple classes of emerging pollutants simultaneously.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.