In Vitro and In Silico Characterization of Curcumin-Loaded Chitosan–PVA Hydrogels: Antimicrobial and Potential Wound Healing Activity

Curcumin has been used in traditional medicine forages. The present study aimed to develop a curcumin-based hydrogel system and assess its antimicrobial potential and wound healing (WH) activity on an invitro and in silico basis. A topical hydrogel was prepared using chitosan, PVA, and Curcumin in varied ratios, and hydrogels were evaluated for physicochemical properties. The hydrogel showed antimicrobial activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative microorganisms. In silico studies showed good binding energy scores and significant interaction of curcumin components with key residues of inflammatory proteins that help in WH activity. Dissolution studies showed sustained release of curcumin. Overall, the results indicated wound healing potential of chitosan–PVA–curcumin hydrogel films. Further in vivo experiments are needed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of such films for wound healing.


Introduction
The skin is an essential organ of the body's defense system, defending against germs, ultraviolet radiation, and injuries [1]. It controls body temperature, and enables absorption of vitamin D through sunlight [2]. While apparent solitary wounds affect the epidermis, fractional thickness and full thickness wounds cause harm to the dermis, subcutaneous, fatty tissues, and/or bone [3][4][5][6]. The reconnecting of skin edges using sutures and surgical adhesives is the primary objective of wound healing (WH). On the other hand, the secondary purpose describes how a wound heals when the skin borders are not forced According to Frey and Malik, NF-(κ)B was previously determined to be oxidant-sensitive, underlining the mechanism of oxidation and inflammation pathways associated with WH [20]. Curcumin with collagen matrix (CICM) was examined in vitro utilizing the lipid peroxidation technique, revealing curcumin as a potent antioxidant agent against peroxy-radicals. Excision wounds on rats were administered curcumintransdermally, successfully reducing H2O2-induced damage to keratinocytes and fibroblasts [21]. Curcumin's ability to protect keratinocytes and fibroblasts against hydrogen peroxide has been shown in vitro [22]. Curcumin is poorly absorbed after oral administration due to its hydrophobicity, and only small amounts of the chemical are seen in the blood serum. Curcumin is likewise a light-sensitive chemical, and undergoes significant first-pass metabolism [23,24]. Curcumin is a good choice for topical usage because of its limited water solubility and significant first-pass metabolism. Curcumin has been shown to have a better impact on WH when applied topically rather than taken orally, which is because of the increased accessibility of the substance at the wound site [25,26].
A cationic polysaccharide, chitosan is the partly to completely deacetylated version of the natural cationic polysaccharide chitin [27]. Sources include crustacean shells, the cell walls of fungi and algae, insect exoskeletons, and molluscradula. Unlike chitin, because chitosan is acetylated it can be dissolved in acidic aqueous solutions. Chitosan's acetylation degree can be described in two ways: first, as a percentage of acetylation (DA percent), and second, as a molar fraction of N-acetylated units (NAF). Chitosan's antibacterial action is dependent on the polymer chain's amino groups. Protonation of these amino groups makes chitosan positively charged [28]. Chitosan's -NH2 groups are changed to the soluble protonated NH3 + form when the pH of the solution falls below its pKa value of 6.3, making it soluble in acidic aqueous solutions [29,30]. Gram-positive bacteria possess a layer of peptidoglycan that contains teichoic acids, which provide the bacterial surface with a negative A cationic polysaccharide, chitosan is the partly to completely deacetylated version of the natural cationic polysaccharide chitin [27]. Sources include crustacean shells, the cell walls of fungi and algae, insect exoskeletons, and molluscradula. Unlike chitin, because chitosan is acetylated it can be dissolved in acidic aqueous solutions. Chitosan's acetylation degree can be described in two ways: first, as a percentage of acetylation (DA percent), and second, as a molar fraction of N-acetylated units (NAF). Chitosan's antibacterial action is dependent on the polymer chain's amino groups. Protonation of these amino groups makes chitosan positively charged [28]. Chitosan's -NH 2 groups are changed to the soluble protonated NH 3 + form when the pH of the solution falls below its pKa value of 6.3, making it soluble in acidic aqueous solutions [29,30]. Gram-positive bacteria possess a layer of peptidoglycan that contains teichoic acids, which provide the bacterial surface with a negative charge. Gram-negative bacteria have a thick lipopolysaccharide layer that contains lipopolysaccharides. On the other hand, negatively charged molecules are present in the outer membranes of fungal species and outer envelope of viruses [31]. Alcoholysis, hydrolysis, or ammonolysis of poly(vinyl acetate) yields PVA, a watersoluble long-chain polymer (PVAc). Using crosslinking and swelling, PVA-based hydrogels create colloidal dispersions with three-dimensional network architectures. In addition to their excellent mechanical qualities (i.e., high elastic modulus and strength), they exhibit minimal toxicity and high biocompatibility [32,33]. In hydrogels, a solution of highalcoholysis PVA (over 98 percent) may self-gelate between molecular chains and form hydrogels at room temperature. However, because to the low gelation density of this hydrogel, it has poor mechanical characteristics that limit its use. Different crosslinking techniques and preparation conditions are needed to create an optimal polymer network structure for PVA hydrogels with high mechanical strength, enhanced water concentration, and transparency.
Hence, in this study we formulated curcumin-based antibacterial WH hydrogels. The hydrogels were found to possess WH action as confirmed by insilico studies. An integrated Gels 2023, 9, 394 4 of 21 experimental and in silico study was conducted to design and develop novel hydrogels using biodegradable polymers such as chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) for the targeted and sustained release of curcumin at the wound site. The main novelty involved in the present research involves green synthesis of hydrogels via physical crosslinking of chitosan and PVA to effectively encapsulate curcumin without any use of chemicals.

Thickness, Weight Variation, and Folding Endurance
The prepared films were evaluated based on various physicochemical parametric tests, as shown in Table 1. The physical tests indicate the degree of cross-linking occurring between the various polymers of hydrogel films. The thickness was found to vary from 0.039 ± 0.004 to 0.057 ± 0.006 mm, while the weight of dried films varied from 0.417 ± 0.03 and 0.495 ± 0.02 g. As the concentration of chitosan increased from batch F1 to batch F5, the folding endurance was found to increase from 345 ± 12 to 478 ± 14. The results are tabulated in Table 1, and the prepared films are shown in Figure 2. charge. Gram-negative bacteria have a thick lipopolysaccharide layer that contains lipopolysaccharides. On the other hand, negatively charged molecules are present in the outer membranes of fungal species and outer envelope of viruses [31]. Alcoholysis, hydrolysis, or ammonolysis of poly(vinyl acetate) yields PVA, a watersoluble long-chain polymer (PVAc). Using crosslinking and swelling, PVA-based hydrogels create colloidal dispersions with three-dimensional network architectures. In addition to their excellent mechanical qualities (i.e., high elastic modulus and strength), they exhibit minimal toxicity and high biocompatibility [32,33]. In hydrogels, a solution of high-alcoholysis PVA (over 98 percent) may self-gelate between molecular chains and form hydrogels at room temperature. However, because to the low gelation density of this hydrogel, it has poor mechanical characteristics that limit its use. Different crosslinking techniques and preparation conditions are needed to create an optimal polymer network structure for PVA hydrogels with high mechanical strength, enhanced water concentration, and transparency.
Hence, in this study we formulated curcumin-based antibacterial WH hydrogels. The hydrogels were found to possess WH action as confirmed by insilico studies. An integrated experimental and in silico study was conducted to design and develop novel hydrogels using biodegradable polymers such as chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) for the targeted and sustained release of curcumin at the wound site. The main novelty involved in the present research involves green synthesis of hydrogels via physical crosslinking of chitosan and PVA to effectively encapsulate curcumin without any use of chemicals.

Thickness, Weight Variation,and Folding Endurance
The prepared films were evaluated based on various physicochemical parametric tests, as shown in Table 1. The physical tests indicate the degree of cross-linking occurring between the various polymers of hydrogel films. The thickness was found to vary from 0.039 ± 0.004 to 0.057 ± 0.006mm, while the weight of dried films varied from 0.417 ± 0.03 and 0.495 ± 0.02 g. As the concentration of chitosan increased from batch F1 to batch F5, the folding endurance was found to increase from 345 ± 12 to 478 ± 14. The results are tabulated in Table 1, and the prepared films are shown in Figure 2.

Moisture Content and Moisture Uptake
The moisture content percentage of the films was found to increase from 17.14 ± 1.12 to 26.72 ± 2.17% between batches F1 and F5. Cazón et al. have previously reported that higher moisture content improves the water vapor permeability and UV barrier action of films [34]. Chitosan has a large amount of hydrophilic amino and hydroxyl groups, which are responsible for the water absorption capacity of films. Therefore, as the concentration Gels 2023, 9, 394 5 of 21 of chitosan in the produced films increased, the moisture content increased proportionately. In addition, the moisture contents of films increased in similar fashion, from 10.28 ± 0.04 to 15.47 ± 0.08%. Moisture content in itself is an important parameter for films, as it is related to the exudate soaking capacity of hydrogels.

Swelling Ratio
The swelling ratio accounts for the fluid uptake capacity of hydrogel films, which can be an important element of the WH action of films. It was found that the swelling ration decreased as the concentration of PVA decreased, and vice versa. Thus, it can be said that the swelling ratio increases with increasing concentration of chitosan (see Figure 3). This may be due to an increase in the cross-linking density of polymeric chains due to increased chitosan content. Similar results for hydrogel swelling behavior have been reported by Abdeen [35] and Casey [36].
higher moisture content improves the water vapor permeability and UV barrier action of films [34]. Chitosan has a large amount of hydrophilic amino and hydroxyl groups, which are responsible for the water absorption capacity of films. Therefore, as the concentration of chitosan in the produced films increased, the moisture content increased proportionately. In addition, the moisture contents of films increased in similar fashion, from 10.28 ± 0.04 to 15.47 ± 0.08%. Moisture content in itself is an important parameter for films, as it is related to the exudate soaking capacity of hydrogels.

Swelling Ratio
The swelling ratio accounts for the fluid uptake capacity of hydrogel films, which can be an important element of the WH action of films. It was found that the swelling ration decreased as the concentration of PVA decreased, and vice versa. Thus, it can be said that the swelling ratio increases with increasing concentration of chitosan (see Figure 3). This may be due to an increase in the cross-linking density of polymeric chains due to increased chitosan content. Similar results for hydrogel swelling behavior have been reported by Abdeen [35] and Casey [36].

WVTR
The water vapor transfer rate (WVTR), which directly governs the moisture microenvironment in WH, is a fundamental physical feature of wound dressings that has not yet been explored extensively. WVTR is a useful tool for evaluating a dressing's efficacy in preventing moisture loss. In this way, a range of wound dressings with varying WVTRs may be used to control the amount of moisture on the wound's surface. When the WVTR is too high, the wound may dry up, whereas when it is too low the wound can fill up with exudate. To provide the best circumstances for natural healing, a dressing with the right

WVTR
The water vapor transfer rate (WVTR), which directly governs the moisture microenvironment in WH, is a fundamental physical feature of wound dressings that has not yet been explored extensively. WVTR is a useful tool for evaluating a dressing's efficacy in preventing moisture loss. In this way, a range of wound dressings with varying WVTRs may be used to control the amount of moisture on the wound's surface. When the WVTR is too high, the wound may dry up, whereas when it is too low the wound can fill up with exudate. To provide the best circumstances for natural healing, a dressing with the right WVTR is necessary. The WVTR is the constant rate at which water vapor diffuses across a film under a given set of parameters for temperature and humidity. During our analysis, it was found that as the chitosan concentration increased from batch F1 to batch F5, the WVTR decreased significantly. The WVTR was found to have a value between 1630.70 ± 25.68 and 2710.54 ± 15.96 g/m 2 /day ( Table 2). Similar results for WVTR have previously been reported by Kanatt et al. for chitosan/PVA-based films [37]. Another group of researchers reported similar results in Cassava starch/chitosan-based films, with an increase in chitosan concentration resulting in a decrease in WVTR due to hydrogen bonding between the amino and hydroxyl groups of Cassava starch, causing reduced availability of hydrophilic groups [38]. Typically, a WVTR of 2030 g/m 2 /day is ideal for wound dressing [39].

Tensile Strength and Elongation at Break
The mechanical strength of hydrogel films can be evaluated using the tensile strength and elongation at break. As the concentration of chitosan increased, the tensile strength of films was found to increase from 4.14 ± 0.24 to 38.87 ± 5.24 N, while the elongation at break varied from30.14 ± 1.49 to 35.78 ± 2.58 mm. This may be due to increased cross-linking density between chitosan and PVA.

FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared) Spectroscopy
In Figure 4a, chitosan shows peaks due to −OH and −NH2 stretching near 3500-3000 cm −1 , a−CH stretching peak at 2850 cm −1 , and a peak at 1250 cm −1 due to C-O-C stretching. Curcumin shows absorption bands near 3500-3000 cm −1 due to the presence of phenolic −OH, while the peak at 1600 cm −1 is due to the stretching of conjugated ketone ( Figure 4b). In the case of PVA, the peak at 2900 cm −1 is due to C-H alkyl stretching, the band detected at 3200 cm −1 can be attributed to hydrogen bonding (Figure 4c), and the peak at 1700 cm −1 is due to hydrolysis of PVA. In the FTIR results for the hydrogel films (Figure 4d), cross-linking occurs between hydrogen and amino groups of compounds. On studying the FTIR graph of the films, it was found that although the wave number underwent mild shifts, the intensity was attenuated at a certain wave number. This may be due to the presence of new bonds formed between interacting compounds. Previously, Yang et al. used FTIR to study the interactions between chitosan and PVA, and reported similar observations [40].

SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy)
SEM images showing the surface methodology are presented in Figure5A-E. The F5 batch formulated film presents a smooth surface with low protrusions ( Figure 5E). The chitosan molecules are spread on PVA matrix, resulting in a mixture with good adhesive properties, while formulations containing lesser amounts of Chitosan have more abrasive surfaces, as exemplified by Figure 5A. Progressing from Figure 5A to 5E, for formula-  Figure 5A-E. The F5 batch formulated film presents a smooth surface with low protrusions ( Figure 5E). The chitosan molecules are spread on PVA matrix, resulting in a mixture with good adhesive properties, while formulations containing lesser amounts of Chitosan have more abrasive surfaces, as exemplified by Figure 5A. Progressing from Figure 5A-E, for formulations F1 to F5 the surface becomes much smoother, as the curcumin particles are trapped inside the void spaces of the polymeric network.

SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy)
SEM images showing the surface methodology are presented in Figure5A-E. The F5 batch formulated film presents a smooth surface with low protrusions ( Figure 5E). The chitosan molecules are spread on PVA matrix, resulting in a mixture with good adhesive properties, while formulations containing lesser amounts of Chitosan have more abrasive surfaces, as exemplified by Figure 5A. Progressing from Figure 5A to 5E, for formula-tionsF1 to F5 the surface becomes much smoother, as the curcumin particles are trapped inside the void spaces of the polymeric network.

Antimicrobial Study
The antibacterial activity of films was assessed using the turbidity technique. Although the films were efficient against both gram-positive and gram-negative microorganisms, it was found that curcumin in pure form had a higher MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) with respect to the bacteria (as measured in µg/mL) due to its incapacity to

Antimicrobial Study
The antibacterial activity of films was assessed using the turbidity technique. Although the films were efficient against both gram-positive and gram-negative microorganisms, it was found that curcumin in pure form had a higher MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) with respect to the bacteria (as measured in µg/mL) due to its incapacity to function alone. In addition, it was discovered that the film (F4 hydrogel) comprising chitosan, PVA, and curcumin had a low MIC, indicating that it had a higher inhibitory effect against grampositive and gram-negative bacteria (Table 3 and Figure 6). The combination of chitosan and PVA has previously been shown to possess inhibitory action against bothgram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The zones of inhibition of formulations for both types of bacteria are represented in Figure 7a function alone. In addition, it was discovered that the film (F4 hydrogel) comprising chitosan, PVA, and curcumin had a low MIC, indicating that it had a higher inhibitory effect against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria (Table 3 and Figure 6). The combination of chitosan and PVA has previously been shown to possess inhibitory action against bothgram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The zones of inhibition of formulations for both types of bacteria are represented in Figure 7a,b.

In Vitro Drug Release
The in vitro drug release was studied for various batches of hydrogel films. The drug release test is indicative of release of curcumin for an extended period of time which governs the WH effect of films. It was found that as the concentration of chitosan increasesfrom F1 to F5, and a retardant release effect was observed. The molecular linkages between PVA and chitosan form a strong matrix, causing a decrease in the release of drug atoms. Many other researchers have reported similar effects for drug release based on polymer concentration [41]. After soaking in water, the hydrogel film instantly begins to swell. Water molecules permeate into the film's structure during this phase. The polymer chains rearrange into more expanded conformations, and the free volumes within the hydrogel are enhanced as a result of the nature of PVA and chitosan and their favourable interactions with water [42]. When water enters the hydrogel structure, the curcumin molecules partly dissolve in the water and are easily able to diffuse via the holes formed by the swelling phenomena. The polymer chains partially dissolve when the hydrogel film is submerged in the releasing media. Because the hydrogel dissolves in the releasing media, curcumin may be released as well. Different drug release models, including the zero-order, first-order, Higuchi, Korsmeyer-Peppas, and Hixson-Crowell models, were adapted to the invitro drug release. The F1 formulation displayed remarkable results, as demonstrated in a prior study [40], whereas the remaining formulations were best suited to the Korsmeyer-Peppas model, as shown in Figure 8. The n-values of the F1-F3 formulations point to a Fickian-type diffusion during drug release, and the value of n was found to be

In Vitro Drug Release
The in vitro drug release was studied for various batches of hydrogel films. The drug release test is indicative of release of curcumin for an extended period of time which governs the WH effect of films. It was found that as the concentration of chitosan increasesfrom F1 to F5, and a retardant release effect was observed. The molecular linkages between PVA and chitosan form a strong matrix, causing a decrease in the release of drug atoms. Many other researchers have reported similar effects for drug release based on polymer concentration [41]. After soaking in water, the hydrogel film instantly begins to swell. Water molecules permeate into the film's structure during this phase. The polymer chains rearrange into more expanded conformations, and the free volumes within the hydrogel are enhanced as a result of the nature of PVA and chitosan and their favourable interactions with water [42]. When water enters the hydrogel structure, the curcumin molecules partly dissolve in the water and are easily able to diffuse via the holes formed by the swelling phenomena. The polymer chains partially dissolve when the hydrogel film is submerged in the releasing media. Because the hydrogel dissolves in the releasing media, curcumin may be released as well. Different drug release models, including the zero-order, first-order, Higuchi, Korsmeyer-Peppas, and Hixson-Crowell models, were adapted to the invitro Gels 2023, 9, 394 9 of 21 drug release. The F1 formulation displayed remarkable results, as demonstrated in a prior study [40], whereas the remaining formulations were best suited to the Korsmeyer-Peppas model, as shown in Figure 8. The n-values of the F1-F3 formulations point to a Fickian-type diffusion during drug release, and the value of n was found to be anomalous based on the drug release pattern due to the presence of substantial amounts of polymer in formulations F4 and F5. This can be explained by the many releasing processes at work, including diffusion, erosion, and polymeric network relaxation.

Protein Targets and Ligand Preparations for Analysis
In this study, targeted casein kinase-1 (CK1) (PDB ID: 3UZP) [43] and glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3B) (PDB ID: 5HLP) [44]were used for molecular docking investigations. These two proteins are significant in improving the functions of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. A recent study [45] has shown that the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway is activated when released Wnt proteins connect to a receptor complex made up of an FZD family member and LRP5/6 [46]. The Wnt/β-catenin pathway is made possible by a number of complicated proteins. Casein kinase-1 (CK1) and glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK3B) phosphorylate important parts of the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway, such as B-catenin, Axin, and APC (adenomatous polyposis coli), and act as negative or positive controllers of the pathway. Because of these phosphorylation events, Axin and APC stick together with b-catenin even more. CK1 is a group of serine/threonine-specific protein kinases that control different biological processes, such as Wnt signalling [47]. They act as both Wnt activators and Wnt inhibitors, as they phosphorylate several parts of the pathway. The CK1 family is made up of six human isoforms, which are found everywhere and share a highly similar kinase region. The N-terminal and C-terminal extensions of each protein are different. The amino-terminal kinase region is very similar in all of the members of the CK1 family [46,48]. The serine/threonine kinase GSK3B binds to and phosphorylates several proteins in the Wnt pathway, which makes β-catenin less active.
Rather than focusing on repair, which may lead to scarring, modern wound therapeutics instead attempt to promote a regenerative response that returns damaged skin to its pre-injury condition. As a result, the development of regenerative wound-healing therapies relies on our knowledge of the underlying molecular processes of the signaling pathways involved in regenerative healing. There are several steps involved in WH, and the Wnt/β-catenin pathway is crucial in many of them, including cell proliferation and tissue remodeling [49,50]. In addition, it has functions in the activation of stem cells and the production of growth factors. As a result, activating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway may be the best strategy for promoting wound regeneration. These proteins were prepared carefully for docking analysis; the respective ligands were removed and the same binding pockets reported in the literature were identified.

Protein Targets and Ligand Preparations for Analysis
In this study, targeted casein kinase-1 (CK1) (PDB ID: 3UZP) [43] and glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3B) (PDB ID: 5HLP) [44] were used for molecular docking investigations. These two proteins are significant in improving the functions of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. A recent study [45] has shown that the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway is activated when released Wnt proteins connect to a receptor complex made up of an FZD family member and LRP5/6 [46]. The Wnt/β-catenin pathway is made possible by a number of complicated proteins. Casein kinase-1 (CK1) and glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK3B) phosphorylate important parts of the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway, such as B-catenin, Axin, and APC (adenomatous polyposis coli), and act as negative or positive controllers of the pathway. Because of these phosphorylation events, Axin and APC stick together with b-catenin even more. CK1 is a group of serine/threonine-specific protein kinases that control different biological processes, such as Wnt signalling [47]. They act as both Wnt activators and Wnt inhibitors, as they phosphorylate several parts of the pathway. The CK1 family is made up of six human isoforms, which are found everywhere and share a highly similar kinase region. The N-terminal and C-terminal extensions of each protein are different. The amino-terminal kinase region is very similar in all of the members of the CK1 family [46,48]. The serine/threonine kinase GSK3B binds to and phosphorylates several proteins in the Wnt pathway, which makes β-catenin less active.
Rather than focusing on repair, which may lead to scarring, modern wound therapeutics instead attempt to promote a regenerative response that returns damaged skin to its pre-injury condition. As a result, the development of regenerative wound-healing therapies relies on our knowledge of the underlying molecular processes of the signaling pathways involved in regenerative healing. There are several steps involved in WH, and the Wnt/β-catenin pathway is crucial in many of them, including cell proliferation and tissue remodeling [49,50]. In addition, it has functions in the activation of stem cells and the production of growth factors. As a result, activating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway may Gels 2023, 9, 394 10 of 21 be the best strategy for promoting wound regeneration. These proteins were prepared carefully for docking analysis; the respective ligands were removed and the same binding pockets reported in the literature were identified.

Molecular Docking
Molecular docking studies of five identified components with two macromolecular proteins were performed using MOE software [51,52]. The binding free energies of these chemicals were obtained within optimal binding conformations, and it was observed that four ligands obtained good conformational results in terms of binding interaction and binding energies in kcal/mol, with the exception of polyvinyl alcohol; the results are shown in Table 4. The optimal binding conformations of the chemicals interacting in the region of the active site of both target proteins are demonstrated in Figures 9-12. Table 4. Selected ligand and target protein molecular docking results.

Ligand Names PubChem ID Ligand Structures
Selected Target Protein

Polyvinyl alcohol 11199
x FOR PEER REVIEW 11 of 22

Molecular Docking
Molecular docking studies of five identified components with two macromolecular proteins were performed using MOE software [51,52]. The binding free energies of these chemicals were obtained within optimal binding conformations, and it was observed that four ligands obtained good conformational results in terms of binding interaction and binding energies in kcal/mol, with the exception of polyvinyl alcohol; the results are shown in Table 4. The optimal binding conformations of the chemicals interacting in the region of the active site of both target proteins are demonstrated in Figures 9-12.

Molecular Docking
Molecular docking studies of five identified components with two macromolecular proteins were performed using MOE software [51,52]. The binding free energies of these chemicals were obtained within optimal binding conformations, and it was observed that four ligands obtained good conformational results in terms of binding interaction and binding energies in kcal/mol, with the exception of polyvinyl alcohol; the results are shown in Table 4. The optimal binding conformations of the chemicals interacting in the region of the active site of both target proteins are demonstrated in Figures 9-12.

Molecular Docking
Molecular docking studies of five identified components with two macromolecular proteins were performed using MOE software [51,52]. The binding free energies of these chemicals were obtained within optimal binding conformations, and it was observed that four ligands obtained good conformational results in terms of binding interaction and binding energies in kcal/mol, with the exception of polyvinyl alcohol; the results are shown in Table 4. The optimal binding conformations of the chemicals interacting in the region of the active site of both target proteins are demonstrated in Figures 9-12.    Table 5 presents a summary of the interaction analysis of the two best virtual hits; curcumin (CID_969516) presents the best bounded conformation at −6.9875 kcal/mol, and presents three bonds with the LEU85 (A), PRO87 (A), and ILE 148 (A) residues of the CK1 target protein with bond distances of 3.22 Å, 4.01 Å, and 4.44 Å, respectively. The binding interactions of curcumin atoms and CK1 protein residues are presented in Figure 6. Chitosan (CID_71853) presents the best bounded conformation at −10.3979 kcl/mol, and presents four hydrogen bonds with the ASP149 (A), MET82 (A), GLY215 (A), and LYS38 (A) residues of the CK1 target protein, with respective bond distances of 3.18 Å, 3.90 Å, 3.17 Å, and 3.40 Å. The binding interactions of chitosan atoms with CK1 protein residues are presented in Figure 10.  Curcumin (CID_969516) presents the best bounded conformation at −6.5164 kcal/mol, and presents one hydrogen bond with the VAL135 (A) residue of the GSK3B target protein, with a bond distance of 3.16 Å. The binding interactions of curcumin atoms with GSK3B protein residues are presented in Figure 11. Chitosan (CID_71853) presents the best bounded conformation at −10.5200 kcal/mol, and presents four hydrogen bonds with LYS183 (A), TYR134 (A), and SER66 (A) residues of the GSK3B target protein, with bond distances of 3.55 Å, 3.00 Å, and 2.93 Å, respectively. The binding interactions of chitosan atoms with GSK3B protein residues are presented in Figure 12.

Conclusions
Chitosan-PVA hydrogel films loaded with curcumin were formulated and assessed for their invitro and insilico characteristics with respect to their WH potential. The physical tests, including WVTR, swelling ratio, invitro drug release, and mechanical strength are in good agreement with the characteristics required for WH potential. An additional antimicrobial study was carried out for both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, and it was found that the MIC for hydrogel film formulation was quite low in comparison to both drug and placebo. These results show that the hydrogel film contained significant antimicrobial activity even at low amounts of drug. In addition, insilico studies were conducted to demonstrate the WH activity. Further invitro studies are required for evaluation of WH potential. In summary, the outcomes of our in vitro and in silico investigations offer encouraging new perspectives on this research problem. However, we are aware of the significance of confirming these results in a live environment. For the purpose of bolstering and supporting our findings, we are dedicated to carrying out extensive and meticulous in vivo investigations. A better comprehension of the processes behind our study topic can be attained by integrating in vitro, in silico, and in vivo experimental data, which is expected to further progress the discipline.

Materials
Curcumin (Product Code: C1386-5G) and Chitosan (Product Code: 448869-50G) were purchased from Sigma Aldrich, Saint Louis, USA, while PVA was bought from Loba Chemicals Pvt. Ltd. Mumbai India. All other reagents and chemicals were of analytical grade. The hydrogel films were prepared using physical crosslinking via the solvent casting method. Chitosan solutions with varying concentrations were prepared by dissolving a weighed amount of chitosan in acetic acid solution (3% v/v) with constant stirring for about 2 h. In parallel, PVA solution (5% w/v) was prepared by dissolving a weighed quantity in distilled water with constant stirring at 50 • C for 4 h. Varying ratios of chitosan and PVA were mixed together, as shown in Table 6, and curcumin (100 mg) was added to each diluted mixture via mechanical blending at 1000 rpm for 10 min. The solution was then transferred into Pyrex petri plates and allowed to air dry at room temperature for 48 h. Dried films were peeled from the petri plates and stored in a desiccator for further evaluation. The whole process was carried out using low-actinic glassware, and Sodium D light was used during the drying process. The formulation concentrations are shown in Table 6. The thickness of the prepared hydrogel films was checked using a calibrated digital vernier caliper (Make Mitutoyo, Takatsu-ku, Japan). For the weigh measurement, the films were weighed individually. All analyses were performed in triplicate, and the standard deviations were calculated based on observation.

Folding Endurance
Folding endurance provides an estimate of how many times a film can be folded on single plane without breaking or forming visible cracks. The experiment was conducted in triplicate.

Moisture Content
It is necessary to evaluate the moisture level in hydrogels, as they naturally contain water. The films were initially weighed for estimation purposes, then dehydrated for around 24 h using silica gel. The films were weighed several times until a steady weight was noted.
The moisture content was determined as per the following equation: The moisture content determination experiment was performed in triplicate.

Moisture Uptake
The films were weighed initially and placed in desiccatorcontaining silica gel (activated) for 24 h.The films were then collected and transferred to another desiccator containing saturated sodium chloride solution for another 72 h, with relative humidity maintained at 75%. The final weight of the films was recorded, and their moisture uptake capacity was determined as per following equation: The moisture uptake experiment was performed in triplicate.

Swelling Ratio
The dried hydrogel sheets were sliced into square specimens measuring 2 × 2 cm 2 . The samples were measured out and stored in 250 mL of phosphate buffer at a temperature of 25 • C. The samples were weighed after being blotted with tissue paper to remove extra surface water at regular intervals. The evaluation was performed three times. The swelling ratio was calculated using the following formula: Swelling ratio (%) = (W s − W d )/W d × 100.
In the above formula, W d is the initial weight of the dry film samples and W s is the weight of swollen film samples. The experiment was performed in triplicate.

WVTR
The WVTR test was performed with reference to ASTM D6701-21 [53]. The samples were mounted in the mouth of a polytop glass containing about 10 mL of phosphate buffer with a pH of 7.4. The samples were pre-weighed and heated in an oven for 24 h at 35 • C. WVTR was determined using the following formula: where A is the polytop opening area (mm 2 ) and W i and W t are the polytop weight before and after being placed in the oven, respectively. The experiment was performed in triplicate.

Mechanical Properties
A certain amount of mechanical resistance to stretching or distortion was expected from the films. Therefore, the tensile strength (N/mm 2 ) and percent elongation at break of the material were assessed using a texture analyzer (TA XT plus, Stable Microsystem, Godalming, Surrey, UK) and a 5 kg loaded cell. The films were sampled using a 1 cm 2 sample area clamped with a 50 mm/min separation rate, and were assessed in triplicate.

FTIR
For the evaluation of different interactions taking place during interaction of chitosan, PVA, and curcumin, the films were evaluated using the FTIR technique. The films were dried in vacuum and evaluated using a Perkin-Elmer spectrometer (Spectrum two, Model no.L160000A, Waltham, MA, USA) with a scanning range of 4000-650 cm −1 and a resolution of 4 cm −1 .

SEM
Morphological evaluation of hydrogel films was performed using a scanning electron microscope (S 4300 SE/N, Hitachi, Tokyo, Japan) with an accelerating voltage of 15 kV. All the samples were staged on the metallic stub, adhered using double-sided tape, and coated with a layer of gold.

Antimicrobial Activity
The antibacterial activities of all the samples were studied against Streptococcus faecalis and E. coli, which were used as test organisms to determine the antibacterial effects of all the substances. The CLSI recommendations for the broth microdilution technique were used to calculate the MIC values [54]. In brief, bacterial strains were cultivated on Luria Bertani Agar medium, which has a pH of 7.5 ± 0.2 and contains 0.5% peptone, 0.5% yeast extract, 1% NaCl, and 1.5% agar. Then, 10 mg of hydrogel was suspended in 10 mL of PBS (phosphate buffer 67 mM, pH 7.4, 0.05% Tween 20, and 0.02% sodium azide) in borosilicate vials to create the stock solution. The gel particle solutions were incubated for 24 h at 37 • C while being shaken; 500 µL of the supernatant was centrifuged and kept at 4 • C until the antibacterial activity could be examined. The positive control was the common antibiotic chloramphenicol, while the negative control was PBS. Sterilized Mueller-Hinton Broth (MHB), which contains 30% beef extract, 1.75 percent casein acid hydrolysate, and 0.15% starch, and has a pH of 7.4 ± 0.2, was then supplemented with the bacterial cultures. The MIC was calculated using two-fold serial dilution in MHB medium containing 1.95-1000 µg/mL of the test compounds; 150 µL of medium (MHB) was collected in duplicate and applied to each well of a 96-well microtitre plate, along with 10 µL of 0.5 McFarland standard (1.5 × 10 8 CFU/mL) culture pathogens from MHB. The inoculation plates were incubated at 37 • C For 24 h.

In Vitro Drug Release
Fixed-size hydrogel sheets were placed on a glass slide and fastened to a stainless steel mesh. The samples were analyzed using a Paddle-type Lab India DS8000 (New Delhi, India) at a temperature of 37 ± 0.5 • C and 50 rpm while being submerged in phosphate buffer pH 7.5 as the dissolving medium. At regular intervals, aliquot samples were taken and the amount of curcumin emitted was measured using a UV/visible spectrophotometer for spectrophotometric analysis at 424 nm (2202, Systronics, Ahmedabad, India). To assess the mechanism of drug release from the hydrogel films, the in vitro data were fitted to a variety of kinetic models, including the zero-order, first-order, Higuchi, Hixson-Crowell, and Korsmeyer-Peppas models. where Q is the amount of drug released at time t, Q o is the initial amount of drug, Q R is the amount of drug remaining at time t, and Q t is the total amount of drug release; k o , k 1 , k H , and k KP are the kinetic constants for the zero-order, first-order, Higuchi, Hixson-Crowell and Korsmeyer-Peppas models, respectively, and n is the release exponent. The in vitro dissolution experiment was performed in triplicate.

Selection of Protein Targets and Chemical Compounds
In pharmaceutical research and computer-aided drug design (CADD), one of the most significant computational techniques is called molecular docking [55,56]. The fundamental purpose of molecular docking is to find probable binding geometries of a suspected ligand with an acknowledged/identified structure of a target protein [57]. This can be accomplished by comparing the three-dimensional structures of both the hypothetical ligand and the targeting protein. The chemical structures of the selected compounds were drawn using the ChemDraw tool for further analysis [58,59]. In this study, we targeted casein kinase-1 (CK1) (PDB ID: 3UZP) [43] and glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3B) (PDB ID: 5HLP) ( Figure 13A,B) [44], as they are involved in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. In pharmaceutical research and computer-aided drug design (CADD), one of the most significant computational techniques is called molecular docking [55,56]. The fundamental purpose of molecular docking is to find probable binding geometries of a suspected ligand with an acknowledged/identified structure of a target protein [57]. This can be accomplished by comparing the three-dimensional structures of both the hypothetical ligand and the targeting protein. The chemical structures of the selected compounds were drawn using the ChemDraw tool for further analysis [58,59]. In this study, we targeted casein kinase-1 (CK1) (PDB ID: 3UZP) [43] and glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3B) (PDB ID: 5HLP) ( Figure  13A,B) [44], as they are involved in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Molecular Docking
Information on the macromolecular mechanism of a bound ligand near the active site of a target protein may be assisted using molecular docking, an insilico application that provides an explanatory scoring scheme and best binding poses generated by a bestdocked complex that aids in retrieval of protein-ligand binding interaction [60,61].Five

Molecular Docking
Information on the macromolecular mechanism of a bound ligand near the active site of a target protein may be assisted using molecular docking, an insilico application that provides an explanatory scoring scheme and best binding poses generated by a bestdocked complex that aids in retrieval of protein-ligand binding interaction [60,61].Five ligands were found to interact with the target proteins (PDB IDs: 3UZP and 5HLP) via molecular docking. The PDB format was imported to the molecular operating environment (MOE) software [51,52]. To prepare proteins for the docking technique, we eliminated heteroatoms, 3D protonation, water molecules, and the default ligand linked to the target protein. Known active sites were identified in each protein structure [43,44], and structural optimization was achieved by subsequent constraints such as the addition of hydrogen atoms. Energy minimization with the Amber14 force field method was performed with both chiral and geometrical constraints. The MOE program generates a database of five compounds selected from experimental research for molecular docking simulations, which is then stored as an MDB file for further examination. Refinement and computation of the binding free energies (G), assessed using the scoring function, were applied to the topranked postures (GBVI/WSA dg) [62]. A reliable scoring scheme resulting in the docking score of the correct binding poses was established based on the number of molecular interactions (hydrogen, Pi, and hydrophobic interactions) [52,[55][56][57][59][60][61][62][63][64]. The MOE database of the docked complex was visualized carefully in order to understand the mode of binding interactions of the ligands bound in the selected pocket of the target protein.