Fast‐degrading, salicylate‐based poly(anhydride‐esters) were designed to degrade and release the active component, salicylic acid (SA), within 1 week. The polymer degradation was enhanced by using shorter or oxygen‐containing aliphatic chains. A copolymer of diglycolic acid was also made with a salicylate‐based diacid for comparison of polymer properties, including SA release. Both methods resulted in polyanhydrides with molecular weights ranging from 14 500 to 27 800 Da and displayed glass transition temperatures near physiological conditions, namely 33–40 °C. The homo‐ and copolymers completely degraded within one week releasing the chemically incorporated SA.
