We report the encapsulation of the hydrophilic model molecule calcein in the Zr-based MOF UiO-66, followed by amorphization of the framework by ball-milling. We show controlled release of calcein over more than 30 days, compared with the 2 day release period from crystalline UiO-66.C.A.O. thanks Becas Chile and the Cambridge Trust for funding. T.D.B. thanks Trinity Hall (University of Cambridge) for funding. D.F.-J. thanks the Royal Society (UK) for funding through a University Research Fellowship. A.K.C is grateful to the European Research Council for an Advanced Investigator Award.This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from the Royal Society of Chemistry at http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/C5CC05237