A silicone-based soft matrix nanocomposite strain-like sensor fabricated using Graphene and Silly Putty

•The deformation of small soft tubing affects active control of microfluidics.•Measuring strain for large deformation on small tubings is challenging.•Graphene and Silly Putty® provide a sensitive yet largely deformable strain sensor.•The sensor intrinsic behavior is partly explained as a derivative effect.•A simple protocol is developed to make the Graphene-Silly Putty® sensor.