The subject invention related to methods and apparatuses for the manufacture of magnetizable carrier particles. In addition the subject invention pertains to particles having one or more of a variety of particle configurations and/or functional features. These geometric particle configurations and/or functional features such as delivering or removing a pay load can be tailored to achieve one or more desired missions. The subject invention also pertains to a method and apparatus for the delivery of particles to target materials, in order to accomplish one or more of a variety of missions. In a specific embodiment of the subject invention, acicular and other particles with a lengthwise dimension that are substantially uniform and homogenous in their geometry are manufactured and provided with magnetizations. In this way, predictable mechanical force responsivity can be achieved when these particles are subjected to an external magnetic field gradient.