The transportation and potential enhanced oil recovery mechanisms of nanosized cross-linked polymeric particles (nanogels) with different charges are described herein. Three nanogels with different types of charges have been synthesized by suspension polymerization using acrylamide, 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid, and [2-(acryloyloxy)ethyl] trimethylammonium chloride (AETAC) monomers. The charged nanogels showed spherical morphology, porous structures, and narrow size distribution. The charged nanogels were able to adsorb onto the rock surface and modify the wettability, a critical parameter of the nanogel to recover residual oil. In addition, the static and dynamic adsorption of charged nanogels in sandstone has been demonstrated. Furthermore, the charged nanogels could reduce the permeability of water much more than the permeability of oil and emulsify residual oil as demonstrated by core flooding experiments. The nanogels with appropriate charges could offer the candidate through disproportionate permeability reduction and in situ emulsification for enhanced oil recovery.