Hydrophilic polymeric particles and methods for making and using same

A method of forming a particle, the method comprising:

• in a disperse phase within an aqueous suspension, polymerizing a plurality of mer units of an acrylamide monomer having a first hydrophobic protection group and a diacrylamide crosslinker having a second hydrophobic protection group, thereby forming a polymeric particle including a plurality of the first and second hydrophobic protection groups;
• and
• converting the polymeric particle to a hydrophilic particle.