Rare earth metal cerium-doped titania nanoparticles (titanium dioxide [TiO 2 ]) were produced utilizing a low-cost and straightforward sol–gel technique, and its enhanced photodynamic anticancer activity was tested on Y79 retinoblastoma cancer cells. The structural, optical, morphological, anticancer activity, and cytotoxicity of pure and cerium-doped TiO 2 (Ce-doped TiO 2 ) were investigated. In X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements, apparent doping of cerium in TiO 2 was detected, with reported anatase patterns shifting toward a lower angle in the anatase structure. Raman spectra verify the presence of cerium doping in TiO 2 by revealing greater wave number shifting. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) analysis showed that the synthesized TiO 2 and Ce-doped TiO 2 nearly spherical. TiO 2 and Ce-doped TiO 2 were studied for their photodynamic anticancer activities, and the results suggest that cerium doping in TiO 2 improves anticancer activity.