Fabrication of a copper-based coordination polymer as a bifunctional photocatalyst and urease inhibitor

Abstract

Copper-based coordination polymers (Cu-CPs) show promise in environmental remediation but are typically confined to single-function applications. To break this limitation, we present a rationally designed, dual-functional Cu-CP (Cu-CP-1) that integrates exceptional photocatalytic activity with potent urease inhibition. This material is engineered via a mixed-ligand strategy, employing bis-pyridine-bis-amide and aromatic dicarboxylic acid ligands to achieve synergistic electronic modulation. Under ultraviolet–visible light, Cu-CP-1 degrades Congo red (CR) with >99% efficiency within 240 min while exhibiting higher urease inhibitory activity (the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) is 5.69 ± 0.77 μM), surpassing clinical benchmarks. This work establishes a new paradigm for designing multifunctional CPs, highlighting their dual-role potential in sustainable environmental remediation and antibacterial therapy.