Abstract: Provided are pharmaceutical agent carriers (e.g., multifunctional polyphosphazenes). Such polymers can be useful as delivery carriers for pharmaceutical agents. Specifically they can be useful for prolonging serum half-life, reducing immunogenicity, and facilitating intracellular and cytosolic delivery of pharmaceutical agents. Also provided are compositions comprising pharmaceutical agent carriers and methods of delivering pharmaceutical agents using the compositions.

Abstract: Provided are pharmaceutical agent carriers (e.g., multifunctional polyphosphazenes). Such polymers can be useful as delivery carriers for pharmaceutical agents. Specifically they can be useful for prolonging serum half-life, reducing immunogenicity, and facilitating intracellular and cytosolic delivery of pharmaceutical agents. Also provided are compositions comprising pharmaceutical agent carriers and methods of delivering pharmaceutical agents using the compositions.

Abstract: An improved technique for forming silicon-on insulator films for use in integrated circuits. The technique provides an improved encapsulation layer to enable in a reproducible way the zone melt recrystallization of such films. The encapsulation layer consists of a first layer of a doped SiO.sub.2 (silicate glass) on which a further layer of Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 is deposited. The doped SiO.sub.2 forms a fusible glassy material which is rendered semi-liquid and flows at the temperatures used in recrystallization. The softening of the encapsulation material accommodates volume expansion and eliminates the biaxial stresses in the layered structure. The Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 layer adds mechanical strength to the SiO.sub.2 layer and improves the wetting angle.