SARASOTA, Fla., March 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Quorum Innovations announced today that new peer-reviewed research demonstrating the rapid capture of nanoplastics by its proprietary technology, Qi601™, has been accepted for presentation at the 29th Annual TechConnect World Innovation Conference and Expo, taking place March 10–12, 2026, in Raleigh, North Carolina. The presentation, titled "Binding of Nanoplastics by a Novel Biofilm Postbiotic Qi601," will be delivered on March 10, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. EST. The research was conducted by Phineas Monsul and Eva Berkes, MD, of Quorum Innovations and was accepted following peer review. The study shows that Qi601™, a non-living postbiotic derived from a beneficial bacterial biofilm, rapidly binds nanoplastics—ultra-small plastic particles increasingly found in food, water, and human tissues. Imaging revealed that nanoplastics tightly attach to Qi601's natural biofilm structure, becoming trapped rather than remaining free-floating. In laboratory tests designed to simulate digestive conditions, Qi601 captured up to 98% of nanoplastics, suggesting it may reduce the likelihood of these particles being absorbed into the body. Qi601 is derived from Lactobacillus fermentum, a probiotic strain recognized as safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA GRAS Notice No. GRN 000988). Because Qi601 is not alive, it avoids risks associated with introducing live microbes while retaining natural binding properties. This work builds on Quorum Innovations' prior DARPA-supported research, developing biological barrier technologies to prevent harmful particles from crossing critical biological boundaries. The company is now applying these defense-grade principles to address everyday civilian exposure to microplastics and nanoplastics. In connection with this research, Quorum Innovations has also published From Miracles to Menace: How Plastics Rewrote Human History, a book examining the rise of plastics and their emerging impact on human health. The company has shared the book with policymakers involved in advancing the Microplastics Safety Act.

SARASOTA, Fla., Jan. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Quorum Innovations, a biotechnology company founded by physician-scientists Nicholas T. Monsul, MD, and Eva Ann Berkes, MD, today announced growing scientific, medical, and public-policy momentum behind a breakthrough microbiome discovery designed to help defend the human body against micro- and nanoplastics. As scientists increasingly describe modern life as the Plasticene Era, concern is mounting over plastics now found in blood, placentas, lungs, and brain tissue. Quorum's work—featured in the newly published book From Miracles to Menace: How Plastics Rewrote Human History—centers on what two doctors observed under the microscope: a naturally inspired protective biofilm capable of intercepting plastics before they enter human tissue. "Plastics are no longer just an environmental problem—they're a human one," said Dr. Berkes. In laboratory testing, this biofilm demonstrated the ability to bind and expel up to 98% of microplastics from the digestive system, offering a new biological strategy for addressing everyday plastic exposure from food, water, and air. Rather than relying on drugs or chemicals, the approach works by reinforcing the body's natural barrier defenses. The science behind the discovery was originally developed through two research awards from the U.S. Department of Defense's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Drs. Monsul and Berkes were tasked with developing microbial protective barriers to shield warfighters and first responders from chemical and biological threats. The same barrier principle—preventing harmful particles from crossing into the body—now shows promise as a civilian application for plastic exposure. Dr. Monsul trained at Yale University School of Medicine and completed fellowship training at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he later served on faculty. Dr. Berkes completed her medical training at the University of Florida and advanced research training at The Scripps Research Institute, with a focus on immunology and inflammatory disease. Together, they have spent more than a decade researching microbiome behavior and biofilm-based protection. Quorum's scientific progress coincides with rising legislative attention to plastics and human health, including the proposed Microplastics Safety Act (H.R. 4486) and broader Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) public-health initiatives. The company holds over 50 issued patents worldwide, with additional patents pending, establishing a strong intellectual-property foundation for biofilm-based barrier protection. "Plastics are no longer just an environmental problem—they're a human one," said Dr. Berkes. "They're in our food, our air, and increasingly, our bodies. This biofilm represents a biologically inspired shield built from mechanisms nature already gave us." Quorum Innovations welcomes engagement from journalists, policymakers, and scientific leaders seeking credible, science-driven solutions to one of the defining health challenges of our time.

New Book Release: This book is part of that mission. It tells the story of plastics as both miracle and menace, and it points to the strategies and innovations that can turn the tide. While the news may be sobering, the directive is clear and so is the next necessary wave of invention – how to keep plastics from invading our bodies.

Imagine holding a plastic spoon. Now imagine that same spoon—ground into dust-sized fragments—lodged inside your brain. That’s what a new study suggests may already be happening. Scientists at the University of New Mexico examined brain, liver, and kidney samples from people who died in 2016 and again in 2024. They found microplastics—tiny shards of broken-down plastic—in every single sample. By 2024, the average brain contained about seven grams of plastic, roughly the weight of a disposable spoon. Even more striking, the brains of people with dementia carried the highest levels. Microplastics are everywhere. They flake off packaging, water bottles, clothing fibers—even the tires on our cars. As these bits break down, they become so small that we eat, drink, or breathe them in without noticing. Many measure less than 200 nanometers across. What shocked researchers was their ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, the body’s shield that normally blocks harmful invaders. Why would the brain hold on to more plastic than other organs? One possibility is fat. The brain is nearly 60% fat, and plastic tends to cling to greasy surfaces. As one researcher put it, cleaning fat off plastic is tough—you’ve seen it if you’ve ever scrubbed a butter-stained container. The big question is whether these plastics harm us. No one knows for sure. Some experts compare it to asbestos—long considered harmless until tiny fibers in the lungs were shown to spark decades of inflammation and disease. Microplastics could act the same way, quietly irritating the brain over time. Their presence is especially worrying given early hints of a link with neurological conditions like dementia. There is a small bit of hope. The study showed that younger and older brains didn’t differ much in plastic levels, suggesting our bodies can clear some of these particles. If we reduce the plastic in our environment, future exposure may decline. But with plastic pollution doubling every 10 to 15 years, the trend is moving in the wrong direction. For now, experts say it’s not realistic to avoid plastic entirely—it’s in our food, water, and even the air. But we can cut down by limiting single-use plastics, switching to glass or metal containers, and removing food from plastic packaging before cooking. The discovery of a spoon’s worth of plastic in the brain is a wake-up call. It reminds us that the plastic we throw away doesn’t just pollute oceans and landscapes—it may be finding its way into the very organ that makes us who we are.