Methods for making biocompatible, implantable, substantially sericin free silk fabric

A method for forming a biocompatible, implantable, substantially sericin free biodegradable fabric from not previously dissolved silk, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) aligning not previously dissolved silk fibroin fibers in parallel or intertwined with other not previously dissolved silk fibroin fibers to form a yarn,
• (b) before and/or after aligning the not previously dissolved silk fibroin fibers substantially removing sericin from the not previously dissolved silk fibroin fibers without dissolving the silk fibroin fibers and without substantially altering the native structure of the silk fibroin fibers, by extracting the sericin from the silk fibrin fibers using a Na2CO3 and soap solution at a temperature between 37° C. and 94° C. for about 30 minutes to an hour and
• (c) organizing a plurality of the yarns thereby forming the biocompatible, implantable, substantially sericin free, biodegradable fabric from not previously dissolved silk fibroin fibers,
• wherein cells for proliferating and differentiating into a tissue have not been added to or absorbed into the fabric.