New acrylic type polymeric systems having degradable ester or amide bonds linked to the bioactive agent 5-amino salicylic acid (5-ASA), were prepared and evaluated as materials for colon-specific drug delivery. Methacryloyloxyethyl 5-amino salicylate (MOES), and N-methacryloylaminoethyl 5-amino salicylamide (MAES) were prepared as the polymerizable derivatives of 5-ASA using activated ester methodology. The drug-containing monomers were free radically copolymerized with methacrylic acid or hydroxyethyl methacrylate, utilizing azobisisobutyronitrile as initiator. The polymer bearing 5-ASA units as side substituents of the acrylic backbone were obtained in the form of poly pendent esters or poly pendent amides. The drug release studies were performed by hydrolysis in buffered solutions (pH 1, 7.2, 8.5), or simulated intestinal fluid containing pancreatin to measure the chemical degradation expected to occur in the intestinal tract. The release profiles indicated that the hydrolytic behavior of polymers strongly depends on their degree of swelling, type of comonomer, and the nature of hydrolyzable bond. Implication of the results for use of these polymers for colon targeting are discussed.