Hydrophilic polymeric particles and methods for making and using same

A method of forming a particle, the method comprising:

• promoting a seed particle in an aqueous suspension to form a disperse phase within the aqueous suspension, wherein the seed particle has an initial particle size in a range of at least 3 micrometers and not greater than 100 micrometers;
• adding a hydrophilic monomer having a hydrophobic protection group to the disperse phase;
• in the disperse phase, polymerizing a plurality of mer units of the hydrophilic monomer, thereby forming a polymeric particle including a plurality of the hydrophobic protection groups;
• and
• converting the polymeric particle to a hydrogel particle.