Carboxylated　single-walled　carbon　nanotubes　has　only　been　noted　for　its　biocompatibility　and　excellent　mechanical　properties.　Nobody　has　examined　whether　or　not　it　facilitate　repair　of　cartilage　defects.　A　kind　of　3-D　carbon　nanotubes-based　composite　scaffold　for　cartilage　tissue　engineering　was　developed.　Moreover,　its　physicochemical　and　biological　indexes,　such　as　microstructure,　mechanical　properties,　cell　proliferation　and　cytocompatibility　were　examined.　All　these　indexes　manifested　that　the　composite　scaffolds　with　carbon　nanotubes　processed　smaller　pore　opening,　higher　compression　strength,　better　cell　proliferation,　and　no　cytotoxicity.　Animal　experiments　further　showed　that　the　addition　of　carbon　nanotubes　at　0.5　wt%　was　most　beneficial　to　cartilage　repair　than　others.　In　conclusion,　the　study　suggested　that　0.5　wt%　CNTs-based　composite　scaffold　has　a　promising　prospect　in　cartilage　tissue　engineering.　©　2020　Elsevier　B.V.