Method and composition for hyperthermally treating cells

A method of proving thermotherapy to a patient, the method comprising

• (a) administering to a patient in need thereof a composition comprising at least one biocompatible excipient and at least one nanoparticle conjugated to an activatable cell penetrating peptide (ACPP) under conditions to provide a concentration at a target site sufficient to be amenable to thermal therapy, and
• (b) providing an energy source to measure an acoustic response and to heat the target site to a temperature sufficient to result in decrease in at least one of tumor size, tumor mass, tumor presence, tumor cell damage, and tumor cell viability at the site, thus effecting patient therapy.