New generations of chemical sensors require both innovative (evolutionary) engineering concepts and (revolutionary) breakthroughs in fundamental materials chemistry, such as the emergence of new types of stimuli responsive materials. Intensive research in those fields in recent years have brought interesting new concepts and designs for microfluidic flow control and sample handling that integrate high quality engineering with new materials. In this paper we review recent developments in this fascinating area of science, with particular emphasis on photoswitchable soft actuators and their incorporation into fluidic devices that are increasingly biomimetic in nature.