Particles are provided for use in therapeutic and/or diagnostic
procedures. The particles include poly[bis(trifluoroethoxy) phosphazene]
and/or a derivatives thereof which may be present throughout the
particles or within an outer coating of the particles. The particles can
also include a core having a hydrogel formed from an acrylic-based
polymer. Barium sulfate may also be provided to the core of the particles
as a coating or absorbed within the core of the particles. The particles
can be used to minimize blood flow to mammalian tissues by occluding at
least a portion of a blood vessel of the mammal, or to deliver an active
agent to a localized area within a body of a mammal by contacting a
localized area with at least one of the particles. Further, the particles
are useful in sustained release formulations including active agent(s)
for oral administration, as tracer particles for injection into the
bloodstream of a mammal or for use in enhanced ultrasound imaging. The
particles may include agents for increasing density for achieving useful
buoyancy levels in suspension.