Antiseptics based on phenol and phenolic derivatives were chemically incorporated into polyanhydrides as pendant groups via ester linkages. Polyanhydrides with antiseptic loadings of 46-58 wt.-% were obtained with molecular weights ranging from 9400-23000. In general, polymers with the bulkier antiseptics were more difficult to polymerize and yielded lower molecular weights. All polyanhydrides were amorphous with glass transition temperatures ranging from 27-58 degrees C. Polymers were deemed noncytotoxic after culturing L929 mouse fibroblast cells in media containing the polymers at two concentrations (0.10 and 0.01 mg.mL(-1)) over three days. In summary, mono-functional bioactives can be chemically incorporated into noncytotoxic polyanhydrides.