In the ocular delivery field, we have developed a biomimetic approach in the design and synthesis of novel therapeutic contact lenses to tackle the unmet need for non-invasive, controlled release of drugs to the eye. This technology, which replaces less efficient/effective and less convenient topical eye drops and ointments, creates a new architecture in polymeric films to enable enhanced drug loading and delayed drug release for treatments including eye comfort, allergy, infection, and inflammation. These lenses can be corrective or non-vision altering (i.e., cosmetic or bandage lenses after cataract removal or Lasik surgery) and can release medication under in-vitro physiological conditions at constant rates for extended periods from 24 hours to 20 days depending on formulation. Patients using topical eye drops typically receive large variances in medication from application to application due to insufficient dosages, skipping dosages, and/or over-administering dosages which can lead to ocular damage and side effects. Also, topical solutions and suspensions are typically washed completely from the eye in a short period of time (thus requiring multiple daily applications) and contain preservatives and sensitizers which can cause discomfort and adverse reactions. Controlling and tailoring the release of drugs via novel contact lenses can solve these problems with increased drug bioavailability, less irritation to eye tissue, and reduced eye and systemic side effects. This new class of recognitive intelligent biomaterials is designed by incorporating motifs with structural and molecular homology to biological receptor docking sites and has a strong potential to work with a wide spectrum of drugs and impact the administration of a number of ocular therapies. The US prescription ophthalmic drug market, in which 90% is controlled by the eye drop and ointment sector, is approximately $4.5 billion and growing at a 10% average annual growth rate since 2002.