In-situ detection of resveratrol inhibition effect on epidermal growth factor receptor of living MCF-7 cells by Atomic Force Microscopy

•A new method for in-situ detection of EGFR on living cell surface was developed based on AFM.•The inhibition effect of resveratrol on the expression of EGFR on living cells was probed by functionalized tips.•Changes in morphology and nanomechanical properties of MCF-7 cells induced by resveratrol were detected by AFM.•AFM is shown to be a novel tool to investigate targets for anti-tumor drug on living cells.

A new method based on Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) was developed to real-time and in-situ detect epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression levels on living MCF-7 cells for evaluating the anticancer activity of resveratrol. Here, the inhibition effect of resveratrol on EGFR expression levels on MCF-7 cells was probed by epidermal growth factor (EGF)-functionalized tips for the first time. Changes in morphology and stiffness of single cell stimulated by resveratrol at different concentrations were detected by AFM. The consequences showed that resveratrol influenced the cellular state and reduced expression of EGFR on the cell surface, which were also interpreted by MTT assay and confocal microscopy assay. AFM, which was used to investigate potential targets for anti-tumor drug on living cells and realize a better understanding of drug action mechanism, was expected to be developed into a promising tool for screening of drugs.