Compositions are provided for preferential distribution of active agents to injury sites. Such compositions may comprise a ligand with hydrophilic properties and one or more active agents, such as compounds comprising hydrophilic metal ions. Because the delivery ligand and the active agent are specifically selected so the interactions between them are mainly of an ionic nature so that binding of the active agent to the delivery ligand and release of the active agent into the target site are not dependent on enzymatic activity. Methods of using such compositions are also disclosed.