Effect of PEG-salt mixture on the gelation temperature and morphology of MC gel for sustained delivery of drug

► Two salt out salts (NaT and NaC) were added to the MC-PEG solution to reduce the gelation temperature close to physiological temperature. ► UV-vis spectroscopy, viscometry and rheometry were used to measure the gelation temperature of all solutions. ► The surface topography and cross-sectional structure of the freeze-dried samples of hydrogels were examined. ► In vitro drug release studies showed that drug release time increased from 6 to 9 h by only changing the salt from NaT to NaC. ► Release of the drug is correlated with the gel morphology.