In general, there are 5 steps for phage display technology as below:

STEP1: Construct phage display library

Recombinant DNA technology is used to incorporate foreign cDNA into viral DNA. Different sets of genes are inserted into the genomes of multiple phages. Spliced into genes for a coat protein to display the protein on the outside of phage particles. These individual phages will only display one protein, peptide, or antibody.

Collections of these phages can comprise libraries, such as antibody phage library, protein phage library, or random phage library.

phage display

STEP2: Binding

These libraries are exposed to selected targets, and only some phages will interact with targets. The target is specific ligands planned to be identified, such as immobilized protein, cell surface protein, or vascular endothelium.

STEP3: Washing

Unbound phages can be washed away, and only those which show an affinity for the receptors are left.

STEP4: Elution

Recovery of the target-bound phage by elution.

STEP5: Amplification

Eluted phages showing specificity are used to infect new host cells for amplification or direct bacterial infection and amplification of the recovered phage.

Back to step 1, repeated cycle 2-3 times for stepwise selection of best binding sequence. After that, you can Enrichment and purification the phage repertoire by precipitation methods to increase the phage titer.