In this study, two Ni(II) complexes, namely [Ni(HL1)₂(OAc)₂] (1) and [Ni(L2)₂] (2) (where HL1 and HL2 are (E)-1-((1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-ylimino)methyl)-naphthalen-2-ol) and (E)-ethyl-5-((2-hydroxynaphthalen-1-yl)methyleneamino)-1-methyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylate, respectively), were synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography, Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry (ESI-MS), elemental analysis, and IR. Their uptake in biological macromolecules and cancer cells were preliminarily investigated through electronic absorption (UV-Vis), circular dichroism (CD) and fluorescence quenching measurements. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) interaction experiments were investigated by spectroscopy which showed that the complexes and ligands could quench the intrinsic fluorescence of BSA through an obvious static quenching process. The spectroscopic studies indicated that these complexes could bind to DNA via groove, non-covalent, and electrostatic interactions. Furthermore, in vitro methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assays and Annexin V/PI flow cytometry experiments were performed to assess the antitumor capacity of the complexes against eight cell lines. The results show that both of the complexes possess reasonable cytotoxicities.

An artificial metalloenzyme (BSA–CoL) based on the incorporation of a cobalt( ii ) Schiff base complex {CoL, H ₂ L = 2,2′-[(1,2-ethanediyl)bis(nitrilopropylidyne)]bisphenol} with bovine serum albumin (BSA) has been synthesized and characterized.

A simple and feasible atom-precise biotinylated Cu(i) complex, which can catalyze H₂O₂ overexpressed commonly in the tumor microenvironment to produce ˙OH through a Fenton-like reaction, was prepared and employed as an effective agent for tumor-targeted chemodynamic therapy.

Multifunctional metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) as fluorescent probes have been proven to be practical tools for future sensing devices. We herein report a new luminescent MOF, {[Zn₃(TLA)₂(H₂O)₂(4-abpt)₂]·5CH₃OH}_n (1) (trimellitic acid = H₃TLA, 4-amino-3,5-bis(4-pyridyl)-1,2,4-triazole = 4-abpt), which was synthesized under solvothermal conditions and then characterized. 1 has a three-dimensional polymeric coordination structure with a V-shaped trinuclear metal–oxygen [Zn₃] unit. The adjacent [Zn₃] units are further connected by TLA³⁻ and 4-abpt linkers, resulting in the generation of a 3D coordination polymeric network with obvious 3D channels. Moreover, 1 demonstrates a unique three-fold interpenetrated network and exhibits excellent chemical and thermal stabilities. Interestingly, 1 can be used as a sensitive and recyclable fluorescent probe for the detection of 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP), levofloxacin (LVX), and L-cystine (L-Cys) with low limits of detection (LOD) of 5.24, 7.47 and 5.05 μM, respectively.

An intuitional hierarchical assembly, metaphorically referred to as a “blossom and yield fruit” process, from a discrete cluster {[Co₁₄(CH₃O)₄(dpbt)₆Cl₁₂]·14CH₃OH, (1)} to 2D cluster organic frameworks {[Co₁₄(CH₃O)₁₀(dpbt)₆ Cl₆]·12CH₃OH, (2)}, has been established.