Two Mn(II) and Zn(II) Coordination Polymers: Aqueous-Phase Detection of Nitroaromatic Explosives and Protective Effect on Atherosclerosis

Via the solvothermal reaction between Zn(II) or Mn(II) salts and 5-(3,4-dicarboxylphenoxy)nicotinic acid (H₃L) ligand, a trifunctional N,O-building block having three diverse kinds of functional groups (O-ether, N-pyridyl and COOH), two new coordination polymers (CPs) could be generated, and their chemical formulae respectively are {Mn₃(L)₂(H₂O)₂]·4H₂O} (1) and {Zn(HL)]·NMP} (2). The complex 2 based on Zn(II) possesses high efficiency of fluorescence quenching for the nitrophenol (2,4,6-trinitrophenol, TNP; 4-nitrophenol, 4-NP; 3-nitrophenol, 3-NP; 2-nitrophenol, 2-NP) in the aqueous solution. Furthermore, the treatment activity of compounds on the atherosclerosis was assessed, and relevant mechanism was investigated. First of all, the ELISA assay was used to measure the content of the inflammatory cytokines released into the plasma. Besides, the levels of the NF-κb signaling pathway in the vascular endothelial cells were measured with real time RT-PCR. The hemolysis test was conducted in this research to measure the biocompatibility of the new compound.