Abstract: Supramolecular assemblies for delivering active agents to cancerous or precancerous tissues in a subject are provided. These supramolecular assemblies are also useful in assays for detecting and imaging of cancerous and precancerous cells. The assemblies are protease-sensitive and comprise a peptide linkage containing a protease consensus sequence. The assemblies can be selectively targeted to cancerous tissue where the protease enzymes degrade the peptide linkage thereby releasing the active agents which were physically or mechanically contained in or retained by the supramolecular assembly.

Abstract: A method for photodynamic therapy treatment of cancerous cells and tissue is provided. The method comprises administering tumor-trophic cells expressing a luminescent protein to a subject. A photosensitizing agent is then separately administered to the subject, followed by an optional iron chelator. On the day of treatment, a luminogenic substrate corresponding to the luminescent protein is administered to the subject. The substrate reacts with the luminescent protein in the vicinity of the cancerous tissue to produce light which activates the photosensitizing agent resulting in the selective destruction of the cancerous tissue.