The present invention is directed to protocells for specific targeting of hepatocellular and other cancer cells which comprise a nanoporous silica core with a supported lipid bilayer at least one agent which facilitates cancer cell death (such as a traditional small molecule, a macromolecular cargo (e.g. siRNA or a protein toxin such as ricin toxin A-chain or diphtheria toxin A-chain) and/or a histone-packaged plasmid DNA disposed within the nanoporous silica core (preferably supercoiled in order to more efficiently package the DNA into protocells) which is optionally modified with a nuclear localization sequence to assist in localizing protocells within the nucleus of the cancer cell and the ability to express peptides involved in therapy (apoptosis/cell death) of the cancer cell or as a reporter, a targeting peptide which targets cancer cells in tissue to be treated such that binding of the protocell to the targeted cells is specific and enhanced and a fusogenic peptide that promotes endosomal escape of protocells and encapsulated DNA. Protocells according to the present invention may be used to treat cancer, especially including hepatocellular (liver) cancer using novel binding peptides (c-MET peptides) which selectively bind to hepatocellular tissue or to function in diagnosis of cancer, including cancer treatment and drug discovery.La présente invention concerne des protocellules pour un ciblage spécifique de cellules cancéreuses hépatocellulaires et autres qui comprennent un noyau de silice nanoporeuse ayant une bicouche lipidique supportée au moins un agent qui facilite la mort des cellules cancéreuses (tel quune petite molécule traditionnelle), un cargo macromoléculaire (par exemple un siARN ou une toxine protéique telle que la chaîne A de la toxine de ricine ou la chaîne A de la toxine de la diphtérie) et/ou un ADN plasmidique assemblé par des histones, disposé à lintérieur du noyau de silice nanoporeuse (de préférence super-enroulé afin dassembler plus ef
