2-Octylsuccinic acid and its copolyanhydrides with sebacic acid have been synthesized by melt polycondensation, and were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, 1H NMR, gel permeation chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermal gravimetric analysis. In vitro studies showed that all copolymers are degradable in phosphate buffer at 37°C. The release profiles of the hydrophilic model drug ciprofloxacin hydrochloride follow first-order release kinetics.