Articles, devices and machines are disclosed for initiating structural changes based on material magnetic properties to cause self-adjustment to improve the operation or function of structures, devices or machines. In one aspect, a device exhibiting a self-healing property to repair a damage, the device including a device structure over which magnetic microparticles are dispersed to impart a self-healing ability to enable the device structure, once damaged to have a broken portion, to self-repair based on magnetic attraction of the dispersed magnetic microparticles to cause re-attachment of the broken portion.