A drug delivery system is disclosed. The drug delivery system includes a recognitive polymeric hydrogel through which a drug is delivered by contacting biological tissue. The recognitive polymeric hydrogel is formed using a bio-template, which is a drug or is structurally similar to the drug, functionalized monomers, preferably having complexing sites, and cross-linking monomers, which are copolymerized using a suitable initiator. The complexing sites of the recognitive polymeric hydrogel that is formed mimic receptor sites of a target biological tissue, biological recognition, or biological mechanism of action. A system in accordance with some embodiments is a contact lens for delivering a drug through contact with an eye. In some embodiments, the drug is an anti-microbial, such as an anti-fungal agent for treatment of large animals. In some embodiments, a comfort molecule hyaluronic acid (HA) is delivered. In some embodiments, ketotifen fumarate (anti-histamine) and/or diclofenac sodium (anti-inflammatory) are delivered.
