New photocrosslinkable degradable copolyanhydrides were prepared by copolymerizing 4,4'-(sebacoyldioxy)dicinnamic acid (CSC) with different amounts of sebacic acid (90-50 mol% in feed). The number average molecular weights were decreased from 25,500 to 11,900 as the CSC content increased. The cinnamate groups remained intact during the polymerization process and were available for a secondary photocuring to form a crosslinked matrix. Poly(sebacie acid) anhydride is highly crystalline and had a melting temperature of 82 degrees C. The melting temperature and heat of fusion of copolyanhydrides decreased with increasing the CSC content, suggesting that these copolymers are a random type. The rate of hydrolytic degradation performed in the phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.2) at 37 degrees C decreased markedly with increasina the CSCcontent. The photosensitive copolyanhydrides were irradiated with a 400 W high-pressure mercury lamp (lambda > 280 nm) to produce crosslinked copolyanhydrides, and then the preliminary tensile tests and hydrolytic degradation were made for them. The photocrosslinking enhanced the tensile strength and modulus as well as hydrolytic dearadation rates. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.