A general surface chemistry strategy is described for the development of a new switchable material. The method modulates a surface-immobilized-molecules structure by using two orthogonal "click" reactions based on Huisgen cycloaddition and oxime chemistry, where the oxime linkage is redox active and switchable. We demonstrate this strategy by developing a noninvasive, biocompatible, in situ surface chemistry that is able to modulate the affinity of a cell-adhesive peptide to cell integrin receptors to study dynamic cell adhesion and cell migration in real time and as a new hide-and-reveal strategy for application in new types of smart biofouling biomaterials.