Two Co(II) coordination polymers exhibit picric acid sensing property and treatment activity in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by reducing intestinal Escherichia coli counts

Two novel coordination polymers (CPs) based on the Co(II) of ([Co{1,3-bdc}{4-bpmh}]·2H2O)n (1, 1,3-H2bdc = 1,3-benzenedicarboxylic acid) and (Co[2-NH2BDC][4-bpm)]n·n[EtOH]) (2, 2-NH2-H2BDC = 2-aminoterephthalic acid) were prepared by reacting Co(NO3)2·6H2O with N,N-bis-pyridin-4-ylmethylene-hydrazine, a rigid, long, neutral bis-pyridyl ligand, in the presence of distinct dicarboxylate coligands under solvothermal conditions. Fluorescence sensing experiments revealed that in the fluorescence sensing of picric acid, complex 2 exhibited higher sensitivity and selectivity than complex 1. The Ksv of complex 2 is as high as 2.10 × 105 M−1, which was higher than that of previously reported CPs. The two compounds were evaluated for the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. The triglyceride levels of liver cells treated with compound 1 or 2 were detected by using test kits. In addition, the CFU test was conducted to assess the inhibitory effect of compound 1 or 2 against Escherichia coli.