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Chen et al. Soft Sci. 2026, 6, 9 Page 19 of 36

Figure 9. MLM droplet-based soft robots. (A) Droplet manipulation using the MLM droplet [87] . Reprinted with permission. Copyright 2022,
American Chemical Society; (B) Electrohydrodynamic instability-based LM pump [105] . Reprinted with permission. Copyright 2025, John
Wiley and Sons; Schematic showing the device structure and mechanism of the MLM droplet-based (C) reconfigurable circulator [106] and
(D) electric synapse [88] . Reprinted with permission [106] . Copyright 2023, John Wiley and Sons; Reprinted with permission [88] . Copyright
2023, John Wiley and Sons; (E) MLM droplet-based stretchable conductor for a reconfigurable circuit [89] . Reprinted with permission.
Copyright 2019, American Chemical Society; (F) MLM droplet-enabled patterning of LM [46] . Reprinted with permission. Copyright 2019,
John Wiley and Sons; (G) MLM droplet as a reconfigurable electrode for monitoring of the ECG signal [60] . Reprinted with permission.
Copyright 2023, American Chemical Society; (H) Injectable MLM for thermal therapy and imaging [109] . Reprinted with permission.
Copyright 2024, Royal Society of Chemistry. MLM: Magnetic liquid metal; LM: liquid metal; ECG: electrocardiogram; MLMR: magnetic
liquid metal robot; CT: computed tomography.

Moreover, the application of MLM droplet robots in biomedical engineering is also investigated. For
example, Kim et al. employed the MLM droplet on the skin as a reconfigurable epidermal electrode for
electrocardiogram (ECG) detection . The MLM droplet electrodes enable multi-site measurements without
[60]
the need for frequent detachment or replacement. They can be rapidly repositioned along Einthoven’s
triangle to record signals from different leads [Figure 9G] . The MLM droplet was also expected for in vivo
[60]
operation, with potential applications in controlled drug release , foreign body removal , and minimally
[54]
[108]
invasive surgery . For example, utilizing the outstanding deformability, the MLM can be injected into the
[109]
target tissue, such as the large intestine or abdominal cavity [Figure 9H] [109] . The radiopaque MLM droplets