First Human Study Shows Qi601 Postbiotic Binds Microplastics and Retains 98% During Digestion

Researchers at Quorum Innovations have published the first human study demonstrating that a technology designed to physically bind microplastics in the human body is feasible. The study evaluated Qi601 — commercially available as My Gut Guardian — a novel non-living postbiotic derived from a heat-inactivated Lactobacillus fermentum biofilm. In a first-in-human proof-of-concept chewing gum study, Qi601 demonstrated visible binding of microplastic particles released during chewing, with follow-on laboratory digestion studies showing approximately 98% of those bound particles remained associated with the postbiotic through simulated gastrointestinal transit.

"A newly released scientific study reports the first published demonstration that a technology designed to physically bind microplastics in humans is feasible."

— Dr. Eva Berkes, Quorum Innovations

The Microplastics Problem

Micro- and nanoplastics are now recognised as ubiquitous dietary and environmental contaminants, present in food, drinking water, and increasingly detected in human tissues. With an estimated 400 million tonnes of plastics produced per year, and particles becoming progressively smaller — and therefore increasingly capable of penetrating human tissue and entering systemic circulation — the scale of human microplastic exposure is not diminishing. Despite growing scientific concern about the long-term health implications of chronic microplastic exposure, no safe, ingestible technology had previously demonstrated the ability to physically capture and retain these particles within the human digestive system — until now.

What the Study Found

The first-in-human component of the research was conducted as a 16-participant interventional crossover chewing gum study. Under microscopic analysis, Qi601 visibly bound with heterogeneous microplastic fragments released from gum during mastication, demonstrating that the postbiotic can engage microplastics at the earliest point of entry into the body — the mouth. This addresses exposure before particles have the opportunity to travel further into the gastrointestinal tract.

Follow-on laboratory digestion simulations then exposed Qi601-bound nanoplastics to sequential saliva, gastric, intestinal, and colonic digestive conditions. Approximately 98% of bound nano- and microplastics remained associated with Qi601 throughout this entire simulated transit — compared with untreated controls — confirming that the binding matrix is durable across the full digestive environment, not just at the point of initial capture.

Intestinal Barrier Protection

Beyond binding, the study also used advanced multimodal imaging — including confocal microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy — to examine what happens at the intestinal wall. In Caco-2 intestinal epithelial monolayer studies, Qi601 reduced both surface-associated and intracellular nanoplastic burden, in both protection and rescue models. This means Qi601 decreased epithelial particle interaction whether applied before or after nanoplastic exposure — a finding with significant implications for the practical use case of reducing gut absorption.

These findings support what Quorum Innovations describes as a "transepithelial barrier gradient" approach — a new paradigm for preventing microplastic absorption through microbiome-inspired physical defence rather than systemic intervention. The underlying mechanism is structural: Qi601's biofilm-derived surface forms small, rough clusters that physically surround and trap plastic particles, preventing them from attaching to intestinal cells.

DARPA Origins: From Warfighter Protection to Consumer Health

The science behind Qi601 did not originate as a consumer health product. Quorum Innovations was commissioned through a DARPA-inspired project to develop biological barrier protection for warfighters against chemical and biological threats — a defence research context that demanded rigorous validation of safety, mechanism, and durability. The microplastics application emerged as a direct extension of that foundational work: the same barrier protection principles developed for soldiers operating in chemically hostile environments were advanced and applied to the challenge of blocking micro- and nanoplastic particles from penetrating the human gut. Quorum's work in this area has been validated through this defence research lineage, lending the underlying science a level of institutional credibility that distinguishes it from standard commercial supplement development.

About Qi601 and Its Safety Profile

Qi601 is derived from Limosilactobacillus fermentum LfQi6 biofilms that are heat-inactivated during production, making it a non-living, non-viable postbiotic rather than a live probiotic. The underlying bacterial strain carries FDA GRAS (Generally Recognised As Safe) status under Notice No. GRN 000988, issued in 2022. Because Qi601 is non-living, it does not colonise the gut or interact with the microbiome in the way a traditional probiotic would — it functions purely as a physical binding agent within the gastrointestinal lumen.

The technology is covered under a pending patent application (QBR.110P: "Materials and methods for removal of microplastics from fluids, the environment and biological systems") filed by Phineas Monsul et al. in May 2025. The product is currently available for consumer purchase at mygutguardian.com.

Scientific Context and Significance

Prior research had demonstrated that live bacterial strains could adsorb microplastics and mitigate some associated toxicity in animal models. The Quorum Innovations study is the first to evaluate a non-viable postbiotic preparation for equivalent microplastic-binding and epithelial-protective effects — and the first to demonstrate this binding in actual human participants rather than solely in laboratory or animal settings. The full study is available on bioRxiv at biorxiv.org, and has been submitted to a peer-reviewed journal, where it is currently under review with publication anticipated shortly.

Research from Quorum Innovations was also accepted for presentation at the 29th Annual TechConnect World Innovation Conference and Expo in Raleigh, North Carolina in March 2026 — one of the field's leading peer-reviewed innovation forums. The study was conducted by Dr. Nicholas Monsul and Dr. Eva Berkes at Quorum Innovations' laboratory in Sarasota, Florida.

What This Means for Consumers

The findings represent the first published scientific evidence that a safe, orally administered postbiotic can physically sequester microplastics at the point of ingestion and maintain that binding through the entire digestive journey. The research is ongoing, and further clinical trials are anticipated as Quorum Innovations continues to build the evidence base. With an estimated 400 million tonnes of plastic produced globally each year — and particles growing progressively smaller and more biologically penetrating — the need for a practical, safe protective tool is becoming more urgent, not less. My Gut Guardian is available now at mygutguardian.com.

For media enquiries or to arrange interviews with Dr. Nicholas Monsul or Dr. Eva Berkes, contact Pamela McCoy at pam.media@quoruminnovations.com. Further research information is available at quoruminnovations.com.