Electrochemical desorption (ECD) of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) is an important process that can dynamically modify surface properties. ECD of SAMs has found applications in biochemical assays and the precise control of cell adhesion. As cell adhesion is controlled by the chemistry of underlying substrate, ECD provides a means to achieve spatiotemporal control of cell behaviors by electrically addressing the substrate. In this minireview, we first introduce the principles of ECD, followed by its applications in dynamically modifying chemistry and biochemistry at the intersurface. Finally, we highlight its applications in cell biology. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.