Structural characterization and anti-liver cancer activity of two Cu(II) coordination polymers

Via applying the mixed-ligand approach, two new Cu(II)-containing coordination polymers (CPs), namely, [Cu-2(alpha-bptc)(phen) center dot 2H(2)O] center dot 3H(2)O] (n) (1) and {[Cu-2(alpha-bptc)(bpea) center dot 7H(2)O] center dot H2O} (n) (2) (alpha-H(4)bptc = 2,3,3 ',4 '-biphenyl tetracarboxylic acid, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, bpea = 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane), based on an unsymmetrical tetracarboxylic acid with the aid of varying ancillary N-donor ligands have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. The structural characterization results show that complex 1 showed a 1-D tube-like [Cu-2(alpha-bptc) center dot 2H(2)O] network decorated with phen moiety, and complex 2 displayed a 1-D ladder-like chain structure assembled by [Cu-2(alpha-bptc) center dot 7H(2)O] metallacycles as nodes and bpea as linkers. Their treatment activity on the liver cancer was evaluated and the related mechanism was evaluated at the same time. First of all, the Annexin V-FITC Apoptosis detection was performed to measure the levels of cancer cell apoptosis after indicated treatment. In addition to this, the activation levels of Caspase-3 and Caspase-8 was assessed through the Western blotting assay.