Interesting project!
You might find some useful starting points in the Prototypes: Global Controls category (Sounds for extracting frequency, amplitude, and brightness and using them as continuous controllers or gates/triggers). There could be some additional starting points and useful examples in the Kyma Sound Library/ Feature Extraction category.
For augmenting the sound into microscopic scratches and knocks, maybe try the Prototype called Brittle-izer? Or search in the Sound Browser for the Sound name "3 band" and use the 3 Band Compressor to compress and boost just the high frequencies from the contact mic.
Any other experiences, advice, and ideas?