The relaxivity behaviour and the structural characterization of new supramolecular aggregates (bilayer structures and micelles) obtained by combining two different amphiphilic monomers are reported. One monomer, (C18)(2)DTPAGlu-Gd, contains a very stable gadolinium complex, and the other, DSPE-PEG(2000)-CCK8, contains the bioactive CCK8 peptide. Samples that contained only DSPE-PEG(2000)-CCK8, or up to 50 % (C18)(2)DTPAGlu-Gd, aggregated as double-layer structures (lamellar aggregates) with a thickness of approximately 80-100 A, as evaluated by SANS measurement and Cryo-TEM imaging. A transition to micelle formation was observed when the amount of (C18)(2)DTPAGlu-Gd in the aggregate was increased. These were rod-like micelles approximately 40 A in radius and >200 A in length. The proton relaxivities for both lamellar aggregates and rod-like micelles were the same (17.2 mM(-1) s(-1)), although the values were the results of different combinations of local and global contributions. The in vitro target selectivity of aggregates that contained the CCK-8 peptide was demonstrated by using nuclear medicine techniques.