Bioengineered microorganisms offer new tool for plastic waste breakdown
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Rice University scientists have tapped into nature's adhesive genius—the sticky power of mussels—to create bioengineered microorganisms with powerful cling that could help transform environmental cleanup. By combining this amplified sticking force with an enzyme that breaks down harmful plastics, their discovery offers a potential new tool for tackling plastic pollution. The research, published in Small Methods, could also curb biofouling, addressing long-standing challenges in industries ranging from shipping to medicine.
The U.S. produces about 40 million tons of plastic waste annually, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, with polyethylene terephthalate (PET) accounting for 64%. PET, a plastic often found in packaging, is notoriously resistant to degradation, taking centuries to decompose. The team's innovation allowed it to create adhesive bacteria and proteins that could help countries worldwide more efficiently decompose PET.
