Zacchigna, SerenaConceição, Raquel, 1984-Rebordão, Raquel Sales2025-07-032025-07-0320252025http://hdl.handle.net/10400.5/101986Tese de mestrado, Engenharia Biomédica e Biofísica , 2025, Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de CiênciasSkin cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer worldwide, with melanoma being its most aggressive form. Melanoma incidence has increased significantly in recent decades, primarily due to increased ultraviolet radiation exposure, with projections indicating an over 80% increase by 2050. In Portugal, dermatology consultation waiting times can reach three years, delaying early diagnosis and treatment of melanoma, making novel therapeutic approaches critically important. Previous research showed that mechanical stimulation hinders cell development. However, while this effect has been studied in melanoma, it has not been fully explored in vivo. This study used RobHeart, a wearable device under development, to explore the effects of mechanical stimulation on melanoma progression. Specifically, this dissertation aimed to determine if the mechanical stimulation reduces tumour growth and proliferation while not inducing the spread of cancer cells to other regions of the body. Controlled mechanical stimulation was applied to B16-F10 subcutaneous melanoma in C57BL/6 mice and two stimulation conditions were tested: a) lower frequency (0.15 Hz) with higher pressure (20 kPa) and b) higher frequency (0.5 Hz) with lower pressure (12,5 kPa). Cell proliferation and apoptosis were assessed via EdU (5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine) incorporation and TUNEL assay (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling), respectively. The metastatic spread was evaluated by detecting tGFP (transgenic Green Fluorescent Protein) expressing melanoma cells in distant organs using qPCR (quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction). Results showed that mechanical stimulation significantly reduced tumour growth at the lower frequency tested while the reduction of the proliferation was significant under both lower and higher frequencies. It was observed an increasing tendency in apoptosis in the lower frequency condition, when compared to the control condition. qPCR analysis did not indicate metastatic spread due to mechanical stimulation. Preliminary findings suggest that mechanical stimulation has potential as a therapeutic tool for cancer.engRobóticaEstimulação MecânicaCancroMelanomaProliferação CelularTeses de mestrado - 2025master thesis