The synthesis and relaxometric properties of hetero-tripodal hydroxypyridonate-terephthalamide gadolinium (Gd(3+)) chelates with differing structural features for probing human serum albumin (HSA) interactions are reported. The Gd(3+) complexes are divided into two series. The first series (3-5) features a benzyl derivative connected to the hydroxypyridonate (HOPO) moiety. The second series of complexes (6-10) has the common feature of a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) attached to the terephthalamide (TAM) moiety and is nonbenzylated. The water exchange of the complexes is in the fast exchange regime with rates (k(ex)) in the range 0.45-1.11 x 10(8) s(-1). The complexes have a moderate interaction with HSA with association constants (K(A)'s) in the range 0.7-8.6 x 10(3) M(-1). Protein binding results in an enhancement in proton relaxivity from 7.7-10.4 mM(-1) s(-1) (r(1p)) to 15-29 mM(-1) s(-1) (r(1p)(b)). It is concluded that the interaction of the complexes with HSA (i) is enhanced by the presence of benzyl groups, (ii) is entropically driven, and (iii) results in a lower hydration number (q).