The precise functioning of natural systems is, to some extent, attributed to the remarkable molecular recognition capabilities of biological macromolecules. The sophisticated molecular encapsulation properties of viral capsids provide a fundamental blueprint for engineering hydrogen-bonded supramolecular polyhedra exhibiting programmable host–guest properties. For an extended period, researchers have employed macrocyclic molecules to design and synthesize a range of supramolecular polyhedra, with the goal of simulating the structural features and molecular recognition capabilities of viral capsids. This perspective briefly summarizes structural advances in hydrogen-bond-directed assembly of macrocycle-based supramolecular polyhedra. Building on these architectural foundations, we discussed their emergent molecular recognition functions toward geometrically diverse guests. These fundamental insights may offer potential implications for host–guest systems in fields such as precision drug delivery, high-contrast bioimaging, and stimulus-responsive sensing.
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