1.D.254. The Transmembrane Graphene Electron Tunnel (TGET) Family
Transmembrane graphene can function as an electron tunnel to regulate the intracellular redox state (Zhou et al. 2024). Cellular redox homeostasis is essential for maintaining cellular activities, such as DNA synthesis and gene expression. New therapeutic interventions have been developed to modulate the intracellular redox state using artificial transmembrane electron transport. However, current approaches that rely on external electric field polarization can disrupt cellular functions, limiting their in vivo applications. Zhou et al. 2024 found that graphene can spontaneously insert into living cell membranes and serve as an electron tunnel to regulate intracellular reactive oxygen species and NADH based on the spontaneous bipolar electrochemical reaction mechanism. Thus, a wireless and electric-field-free approach to regulating cellular redox states directly is available that offers possibilities for biological applications such as cell process intervention and treatment for neurodegenerative diseases.