A New Ni(II)-containing Coordination Complex Based on Carboxylate and Multinitrogen Co-Ligands: Crystal Structure and Protective Effect on Type 2 Diabetes by Down-Regulating PKC and MAPK Activation

In this study, a new Ni(II)-containing coordination complex [Ni2(H2O)2(L1)(L2)2] (1) is succes­sfully prepared by the reaction of Ni(NO3)2×6H2O, 5,5'-((1,4-phenylenebis(methylene))bis-(azanediyl))diisophthalic acid (H4L1), and 6,6'-bis(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)-2,2'-bipyridine (L2) in a mixed solvent of DMF and water. Various characterization methods such as the elemental analysis and single crystal X-ray diffraction are used to probe the structural composition and the agreement of the as-prepared metal-coordination complex. Furthermore, nanosized complex 1 is prepared via the refluxing method, and the transmission electron microscopy ima­ges confirm the nanosize of the particles and their homogeneous distribution. To evaluate the treatment activity of nano-1 on the type 2 diabetes, the HepG2 liver cells are treated with the compound. The relative expression of PKC and MAPK in gene and the protein level are detected by RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively.