Indium(III)-coordination polymer based on a C3-symmetric ligand: crystal structure and anticancer activity on neuroblastoma

By employment of a flexible pseudo C3-symmetric tricarboxylic acid 2,4,6-tris[(4-carboxyphenoxy)methyl]-1,3,5-trimethylbenzene (H3L), a new In(III)-containing coordination polymer with the chemical formula of {In(L)(H2O)](DMF)}n (1) has been successfully prepared by reaction of In(NO3)3·6H2O with the H3L in a mixed solvent of DMF and CH3CN with the HNO3 as the pH modulator. The as-prepared complex 1 has been studied via the elemental analysis, powder X-ray diffraction, single crystal X-ray diffraction along with the thermogravimetric analysis. Furthermore, a sonochemical method was used to produce the nano-structures of complex 1. In biological functional study, the CCK-8 assay was performed to detect the in vitro anti-proliferation activity of nano 1. Then, the Annexin V-FITC/PI and DCFH-DA detection were performed to detect the cell apoptosis and intracellular ROS accumulation in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells after compound treatment.