Transmembrane\nGraphene as an Electron Tunnel to Regulate\nthe Intracellular Redox State

Cellular redox homeostasis is essential for maintaining\ncellular\nactivities, such as DNA synthesis and gene expression. Inspired by\nthis, new therapeutic interventions have been rapidly developed to\nmodulate the intracellular redox state using artificial transmembrane\nelectron transport. However, current approaches that rely on external\nelectric field polarization can disrupt cellular functions, limiting\ntheir <i>in vivo</i> application. Therefore, it is crucial\nto develop novel electric-field-free modulation methods. In this work,\nwe for the first time found that graphene could spontaneously insert\ninto living cell membranes and serve as an electron tunnel to regulate\nintracellular reactive oxygen species and NADH based on the spontaneous\nbipolar electrochemical reaction mechanism. This work provides a wireless\nand electric-field-free approach to regulating cellular redox states\ndirectly and offers possibilities for biological applications such\nas cell process intervention and treatment for neurodegenerative diseases.