Exploiting Device Deformability for Fluid and Particle Manipulation

ABSTRACT The ability to precisely manipulate fluids and particles underpins a wide range of scientific and engineering disciplines. Conventional devices for fluid and particle manipulation are predominantly developed based on rigid materials and platforms due to their high mechanical strength, dimensional stability, and compatibility with established manufacturing processes. However, the intrinsic rigidity of devices limits their mechanical flexibility and adaptability, rendering them unsuitable for applications requiring conformal contact, dimensional control, or dynamic interaction with soft or irregular environments. Recently, emerging soft materials and deformable architectures offer entirely new modes of actuation and control. Despite rapid progress, the field lacks a unified framework that links material deformability with specific operational mechanisms for fluid and particle manipulation. This review aims to provide a mechanistic understanding of how device deformability can be intentionally harnessed to control fluids and particles at the microscale. We first summarize the key materials and fabrication techniques for deformable devices. We then discuss how structural deformation can be exploited to enable various fluidic operations, as well as particle manipulation functions. Subsequently, we highlight representative applications that leverage device deformability in biomedicine and industry. Finally, we outline critical challenges and propose future research directions of the field for advanced manipulation.