Cu(II) and Co(II) coordination polymers: Magnetic properties, regulating the YAP signaling pathway activation and exerting anticancer activity against breast cancer combined with Sevoflurane

Two transition metal coordination polymers (CPs) have been prepared via the corresponding metal salts reacting with flexible tripodal 1,3,5-tris(4-carbonylphenyloxy)benzene (H3TCPB) ligand under the conditions of solvothermal in the existence of auxiliary connector 4,4′-bis(imidazol-1-yl)biphenyl (bibp) or 1,4-bis(imidazol-1-yl)benzene (bib), and their chemical formula are {[Cu3(TCPB)2(bibp)2(dioxane)2.5(H2O)2]·(DMF)}n (1) and [Co1.5(TCPB)(bib)0.5(DMF)]n (2). The magnetic investigations indicate that two compounds possess antiferromagnetic coupling between neighboring metallic ions. Their anti-cancer activities were evaluated and the related detailed mechanism was investigated. First of all, the inhibitory activity of the compounds on the breast cancer cells' migration was assessed with trans-well method. Next, the Yes-associated protein (YAP) relative expression level in the cancer cells after compounds treatment was evaluated with real time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).