OBJECTIVE To develop and characterize the hydrogel microspheres for embolization. METHODS N-[tris (hydroxymethyl) methyl] acrylamide-gelatin microspheres (TGMs) were prepared by an inverse suspension polymerization approach. Effects of materials on size, water absorption rate and elasticity of the microspheres were investigated. The materials which were included consisted of gelatin in the range of 10.0-100.0 g/L, N-[tris (hydroxymethyl)methyl]acrylamide in the range of 33.3-200 g/L, cross-linking agent N,N'-methylene-bis-acrylamide in the range of 3.3-10.0 g/L, surfactant Span 80 in the range of 0.5-1.8 g/L, and initiator ammonium persulfate in the range of 1.0-5.0 g/L. The appearance of TGMs was observed under microscope. TGMs were analyzed by infrared spectrum (IR). RESULTS The TGMs were round with smooth surface in view of photograph of microscope. The average diameter of TGMs was increased with the increase of gelatin, monomer or cross-linking agent concentrations but decreased with the increase of surfactant or initiator Concentration. The water adsorption rate of the microspheres was decreased with the increase of gelatin or cross-linking agent concentration but not affected by surfactant concentration. The elasticity of TGMs was increased with the increase of monomer or cross-linking agent concentration, decreased with the increase of gelatin concentration, but not affected by surfactant or initiator concentration. All factors above considered, the final prepared TGMs consisted of 10 g/L gelatin, 100.0 g/L monomer, 6.7 g/L cross-linking agent, 0.9 g/L surfactant, and 3.0 g/L initiator. The average diameter of TGMs obtained was about 700.0 microm. The water adsorption rate and the elasticity in accordance with the maximum diameter of the microspheres passed through a microcatheter of TGMs were 12.4 (g/g), and 1 600.0 microm, respectively. The results of IR spectra confirmed the polymerization of monomer, resulting in Nj[tris(hydroxymethyl)methyl]acrylamidegelatin microspheres. CONCLUSIONS The developed TGMs seemed to be suitable for clinical embolization according to the surface, average diameter, elastic and hydrophilic property of TGMs.