Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 26, 2026
09:47
A Microfluidic Technique to Probe Cell Deformability
Published on: September 3, 2014
Exploiting Device Deformability for Fluid and Particle Manipulation
Zhiyang Hong1,2, Xiaoyue Kang1,3, Dan Yuan3
1Queensland Quantum and Advanced Technologies Research Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|May 25, 2026
Summary
This review explores how soft, deformable devices can precisely control fluids and particles at the microscale. It provides a framework linking material properties to manipulation mechanisms for new applications.
Area of Science:
- Microfluidics
- Soft Materials Science
- Mechanical Engineering
Background:
- Conventional fluid and particle manipulation devices rely on rigid materials, limiting flexibility and adaptability.
- Rigid devices are unsuitable for applications requiring conformal contact or interaction with soft environments.
- Emerging soft materials and deformable architectures offer novel actuation and control methods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a unified framework connecting material deformability with operational mechanisms for microscale fluid and particle manipulation.
- To provide a mechanistic understanding of how device deformability enables advanced manipulation.
Main Methods:
- Summarization of key materials and fabrication techniques for deformable devices.
- Discussion of how structural deformation enables fluidic operations and particle manipulation.
- Highlighting representative applications in biomedicine and industry.
Main Results:
- Deformable devices offer new modes of actuation and control for fluid and particle manipulation.
- Structural deformation can be exploited for various fluidic operations and particle manipulation functions.
- Applications demonstrate the utility of deformable devices in biomedicine and industry.
Conclusions:
- Device deformability is a critical factor for advanced microscale fluid and particle manipulation.
- Further research is needed to address challenges and explore future directions in deformable device technology.
Related Concept Videos
01:17Accelerating Fluids
When a fluid is in constant acceleration, the pressure and buoyant force equations are modified. Suppose a beaker is placed in an elevator accelerating upward with a constant acceleration, a. In the beaker, assume there is a thin cylinder of height h with an infinitesimal cross-sectional area, ΔS.
The motion of the liquid within this infinitesimal cylinder is considered to obtain the pressure difference. Three vertical forces act on this liquid:
The motion of the liquid within this infinitesimal cylinder is considered to obtain the pressure difference. Three vertical forces act on this liquid:
01:12Temperature Dependent Deformation
In a nonhomogeneous rod made up of steel and brass, restrained at both ends and subjected to a temperature change, several steps are involved in calculating the stress and compressive load. Due to the problem's static indeterminacy, one end support is disconnected, allowing the rod to experience the temperature change freely. Next, an unknown force is applied at the free end, triggering deformations in the rod's steel and brass portions. These deformations are then calculated and added together...
01:11Deformation of Member under Multiple Loadings
When a rod is made of different materials or has various cross-sections, it must be divided into parts that meet the necessary conditions for determining the deformation. These parts are each characterized by their internal force, cross-sectional area, length, and modulus of elasticity. These parameters are then used to compute the deformation of the entire rod.
In the case of a member with a variable cross-section, the strain is not constant but depends on the position. The deformation of an...
In the case of a member with a variable cross-section, the strain is not constant but depends on the position. The deformation of an...
01:19Plastic Deformations
Plastic deformation represents a fundamental concept in materials science, which explains the irreversible change in the shape of a material when it experiences stress beyond its elastic capability. This phenomenon is important in structural engineering, especially in designing and analyzing cantilever beams—structures that are securely fixed at one end and bear loads at the opposite end. When these beams are subjected to loads within their elastic range, they will return to their original...
01:14Plastic Deformations
It is essential to understand how structural members behave under plastic deformation when the bending stress exceeds the material's yield strength. This state of deformation permanently alters the shape of the member, in contrast to the linear elastic behavior observed before yielding. The strain at any point in the member is expressed in terms of maximum strain. Notably, the neutral axis, which coincides with the centroid during elastic bending, shifts away from the centroid under plastic...
01:20Plastic Deformation in Circular Shafts
When materials are subjected to forces that surpass their yield strength, they undergo a process known as plastic deformation. This results in a permanent alteration or strain in their structure. This concept can be specifically applied to circular shafts, where the deformation leads to a change in its shape. The precise evaluation of this plastic deformation requires understanding the stress distribution within the circular shaft, which is achieved by calculating the maximum shearing stress in...