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Four new zinc(II) complexes, [ZnL2] (1), [ZnL(μ2-η1:η1-OAc)]n (2), [Zn2L2(μ1,1-N3)(μ1,3-N3)]n (3) and [ZnL(μ2-1,5-dca)]n (4), and a new nickel(II) complex, [Ni2L2(MeOH)2(μ1,1-N3)2] (5), where L is the deprotonated form of 5-bromo-(((2-(phenylamino)ethyl)imino)methyl)phenol (HL), OAc is acetate and dca is dicyanamide, were synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, infrared and electronic spectroscopy, and single crystal X-ray determination. Complex 1 is a mononuclear zinc(II) compound, with the Zn(II) in tetrahedral coordination. Complexes 2, 3 and 4 are acetate, azide and dicyanamide bridged polymeric zinc(II) compounds, respectively, with the Zn(II) in distorted trigonal bipyramidal coordination. Complex 5 is an azide bridged dinuclear nickel(II) compound, with the Ni(II) ion having octahedral coordination. The compounds were evaluated for their antibacterial activities on Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas fluorescens and antifungal activities on Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. Complexes 1 and 2 showed the most effective activity against B. subtilis and E. coli, with MIC values of 1.2–4.7 μM.

To improve the solubility and targeting of Ginsenoside Rg3 (G-Rg3), in the current study, we constructed a novel targeting functional material folic acid -poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)-cholesteryl methyl carbonate (FA-PEOz-CHMC, FPC) modified G-Rg3 liposomes (FPC-Rg3-L). FPC was synthesized by using folic acid (FA) as a targeted head coupling with acid-activated poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)-cholesteryl methyl carbonate. The inhibitory effects of the G-Rg3 preparations on mouse breast cancer cells (4T1) were investigated by CCK-8 assay. Paraffin sections of female BALB/c mice viscera were taken for hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining after continuous tail vein injection of G-Rg3 preparations. BALB/c mice bearing triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) were used as animal models to investigate the inhibition of G-Rg3 preparations on tumor growth and improving quality of life. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and α-smooth muscular actin (α-SMA) were used to investigate the expression of two fibrosis factors in tumor tissues by western blotting. Compared with G-Rg3 solution (Rg3-S) and Rg3-L, FPC-Rg3-L had a significant inhibitory effect on 4T1 cells (p < .01), and the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of FPC-Rg3-L was significantly lower (p < .01). The H&E results showed that the injection of FPC-Rg3-L and Rg3-S did not cause damage to the organs of mice. Compared with the control group, tumor growth was significantly inhibited in mice treated with FPC-Rg3-L and G-Rg3 solutions (p < .01). This study presents a new and safe treatment for TNBC, reduces the toxic and side effects of the drug, and provides a reference for the efficient use of Chinese herbal medicine components.