RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Transport of a graphene nanosheet sandwiched inside cell membranes JF Science Advances JO Sci Adv FD American Association for the Advancement of Science SP eaaw3192 DO 10.1126/sciadv.aaw3192 VO 5 IS 6 A1 Chen, Pengyu A1 Yue, Hua A1 Zhai, Xiaobo A1 Huang, Zihan A1 Ma, Guang-Hui A1 Wei, Wei A1 Yan, Li-Tang YR 2019 UL http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/5/6/eaaw3192.abstract AB The transport of nanoparticles at bio-nano interfaces is essential for many cellular responses and biomedical applications. How two-dimensional nanomaterials, such as graphene and transition-metal dichalcogenides, diffuse along the cell membrane is, however, unknown, posing an urgent and important issue to promote their applications in the biomedical area. Here, we show that the transport of graphene oxides (GOs) sandwiched inside cell membranes varies from Brownian to Lévy and even directional dynamics. Specifically, experiments evidence sandwiched graphene–cell membrane superstructures in different cells. Combined simulations and analysis identify a sandwiched GO–induced pore in cell membrane leaflets, spanning unstable, metastable, and stable states. An analytical model that rationalizes the regimes of these membrane-pore states fits simulations quantitatively, resulting in a mechanistic interpretation of the emergence of Lévy and directional dynamics. We finally demonstrate the applicability of sandwiched GOs in enhanced efficiency of membrane-specific drug delivery. Our findings inform approaches to programming intramembrane transport of two-dimensional nanomaterials toward advantageous biomedical applications.